Liverpool are leaving it late in the summer transfer window. The Reds have been chasing wide reinforcements since the start of the World Cup. That’s now been and gone with Spain doing the honours, but still those at Anfield remain without the signing that they’re after.
Names like Ibrahim Mbaye have threatened to steal the headlines, before entering the void of unsuccessful transfer rumours, and the latest name on Liverpool’s radar is Yankuba Minteh.
The Brighton & Hove Albion winger doesn’t return from injury until October, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool. The Reds have reportedly seen an opening offer worth £50m rejected by the Seagulls but are expected to land a deal for the winger at this stage.
There will be some mixed opinions around Anfield if Minteh arrives. Whilst, on paper, he is the most comparable to original target Yan Diomande, the Brighton star hasn’t shown any evidence that his output will increase anytime soon. For a hefty price, that’s simply not what Liverpool need.
“We will definitely sign some players. Some deals you have to wait until the end. But the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1. Because it is true that we are still quite thin.” – Andoni Iraola
What’s more, the 22-year-old won’t even become available until October and then he’ll have a settling in period on the pitch. At a time when Liverpool are so desperate to solve their problem in wide areas, they should opt out of taking such a gamble.
|
Liverpool winger targets |
Current club |
Position |
Why Liverpool could be interested |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yankuba Minteh |
Brighton |
RW |
Explosive, direct winger with Premier League experience and major upside |
|
Bradley Barcola |
PSG |
LW |
Elite ball-carrying ability, pace and end product; a high-profile attacking option |
|
Ibrahim Mbaye |
PSG |
RW/LW |
Highly rated young talent capable of playing across the frontline |
Instead, the focus has to stay on Bradley Barcola. The deal for the Frenchman is far from dead yet. Even with time running out, reports suggest that he could still be on his way to Anfield this month.
Liverpool set to reach Bradley Barcola ‘agreement’
As reported by French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Liverpool are now readying an official offer to sign Barcola and both FSG and their French counterparts believe there ‘will be an agreement’.
Speaking about the summer-long transfer saga, Hawkins told the After Foot podcast: “There’s no intention to keep Bradley Barcola. The sticking point has been the valuation, where they started at €170m.
“Liverpool have made different verbal offers. They’ve made offers since the verbal one, but there hasn’t been a written offer yet because, at this level, I think the next written offer will be the one that gets it done.
“We’ve understood that it would be somewhere between €130m and €150m, but in any case, it won’t be below €120m for Bradley Barcola. Everyone involved in this deal thinks there will be an agreement.”
There’s every chance that Liverpool break their transfer record for the third time in 12 months to welcome Barcola. At this stage of the window, they may deem the 23-year-old worth every penny, however.
Dubbed “unstoppable” by PSG manager Luis Enrique, all signs are pointing towards Anfield for Barcola. Whether he can solve Andoni Iraola‘s biggest problem is the big question.
|
League stats 25/26 |
Bradley Barcola |
Yankuba Minteh |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
1,750 |
2,398 |
|
Goals |
11 |
3 |
|
Assists |
1 |
4 |
|
Successful take-ons |
1.85 |
2.44 |
|
Touches in opposition’s box per 90 |
8.69 |
6.94 |
The numbers show that Barcola has exactly what Minteh is lacking. The 23-year-old produces the output whilst maintaining take-on success and spends most of his time inside the area. If Liverpool are to have any success this season, then they must sign the PSG star.
What Liverpool fans are saying about the Barcola saga
