Brighton have rejected Liverpool's £50m bid for Yankuba Minteh, with the winger now out after surgery on a right leg injury sustained in a friendly against Roma earlier this month. Brighton also say he will miss a long period, and Fabian Hurzeler has described him as a key player. The move has landed as a valuation fight, not a clean path to a sale.
Brighton's stance
Hurzeler said: "He will miss for a long period and it's definitely a problem for us because he is a key player but we will find a way to manage this." That is the clearest sign of where Brighton stand. The injury has not weakened their resolve, and Minteh remains under contract until 2029, which leaves them with no immediate pressure to take Liverpool's first offer.
The forward's output also helps explain why Brighton are firm. He has 66 Premier League appearances, with 9 goals and 8 assists, and a recent 7.9 rating across his last five league matches points to a player who was contributing before the setback. There is a small split in public reporting on the exact league totals, with some outlets listing 10 goals and 9 assists in 73 appearances for Brighton, but the overall picture is the same: he is not being priced like a stopgap.
Liverpool's interest
Liverpool have clearly moved early rather than waiting for the market to settle. Their £50m bid shows interest in a winger who can add width, which fits a club still looking to strengthen its attacking options after finishing fifth in the 2025 Premier League. Bradley Barcola has also been mentioned in the wider frame, but Minteh is the one who has already drawn a formal approach.
Brighton have the contract, the injury timeline and the performances behind them. Unless Liverpool go back with a better offer, this is likely to stay a rejected bid rather than a transfer that moves quickly.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
