The next couple of weeks could prove to be vital for new boss Andoni Iraola if he is to be a success and a fan-favourite during his tenure as Liverpool manager.
He’s been tasked with leading the club back to glory after the failures of Arne Slot last campaign, but he’s in desperate need of added reinforcements to bolster his senior ranks.
Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo are the only two senior additions made throughout the ongoing window, with only £35m being spent with less than 10 days left in the market.
However, the latest developments at Anfield have seen numerous names appear on their shortlist, with one name seemingly now at the very top of their list.
How Minteh would improve Iraola’s attacking options at Liverpool
Over recent days, Liverpool have been hugely touted with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh in a bid to add needed attacking depth and quality.
The Gambian star has been a long-standing transfer target for the Reds and have even made an offer for his services – but the aforementioned bid was dismissed by the Seagulls.
Fabian Hurzeler’s men are said to be demanding at least £70m to offload the 22-year-old, but it’s unclear if Iraola’s men would be willing to match such an asking price.
However, Mohamed Salah’s departure from Anfield during the summer has heightened the need for added options on the right-side – something which Minteh would undoubtedly provide.
His tally of seven combined goals and assists last season may not excite the supporters, but it’s his underlying stats showcase his quality within attacking areas.
The youngster completed an impressive tally of 2.4 successful dribbles per 90, subsequently ranking him in the top 10% of all forwards in the Premier League last season.
|
Combined PL G+As for Brighton (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Tally |
|
Danny Welbeck |
14 |
|
Yankuba Minteh |
7 |
|
Jack Hinshelwood |
7 |
|
Diego Gomez |
6 |
|
Georginio Rutter |
6 |
|
Jan Paul van Hecke |
6 |
|
Yasin Ayari |
6 |
|
Maxim De Cuyper |
5 |
Minteh also completed 1.4 successful crosses per 90 throughout 2025/26, also placing him above 90% of players in his position across Europe’s top-five leagues.
How Liverpool can land a bigger talent than Minteh for £50m
Despite the pending move for the Brighton star, there’s little denying that PSG winger Bradley Barcola still remains Liverpool’s number one target before the summer window closes.
The Frenchman has continuously been linked with a move to Anfield over recent months, with journalist David Ornstein confirming on Saturday that the Reds are still looking to add two wingers.
Multiple other targets are likely to be pursued before the September 1st transfer deadline, with Crystal Palace star Ismaïla Sarr emerging as the latest player to be linked with a move to Merseyside.
It’s been reported via TEAMtalk that Iraola’s men are now keen on a move to bring the Senegalese international to Anfield before the window closes.
However, competition for his services appears to be high, as Turkish outfit Galatasaray have made the 28-year-old one of their top targets over the last few days.
Whilst the report fails to mention who’s in the lead for his signature at present, it does confirm that a fee of £50m would be required for the Eagles to sanction a sale.
As a result, there’s a £20m difference in valuation between Minteh and Sarr, with the players currently at different stages of their development in the Premier League.
The former is undoubtedly just starting his career at the top-level, whilst the latter is entering his prime years and is an immediate option to deliver the goods at Anfield.
When comparing their respective stats from the previous campaign, the Palace man managed to better the Gambian in countless key areas – showcasing his dominance within forward areas.
Sarr registered an impressive tally of nine goals in his 28 league games last term, subsequently finding the back of the net three times more than Brighton star, Minteh.
He also managed to place more of his efforts on target last campaign, highlighting his ability to cause more of a stir in forward areas – something which Iraola will be desperate to add to his ranks.
The Senegalese star’s dominance over the Gambian was further reflected in his higher tally of fouls won per 90 – subsequently being brought down 1.7 times per game by the opposition.
Such a figure highlights the threat he poses to those trying to stop him, with the Palace talent a frightening prospect when running with the ball at full speed.
His higher tally of line-breaking passes completed per 90 further demonstrates his incredible creative spark, which could see other attackers at Anfield massively benefit from any deal for the winger.
£50m for an attacker in his prime years could prove to be an excellent deal for Liverpool, as Iraola and Co hunt for success during their first year at the helm.
Minteh would be a solid investment for the future, but if the Reds are on the hunt for immediate silverware – a deal for Sarr over the Brighton star should be a no-brainer.
