Liverpool’s pursuit of Yankuba Minteh has taken a fresh twist. As of 18 September 2026, personal terms are broadly agreed with the Brighton winger, but the Reds’ second bid has been turned down. This update brings together the latest reporting from Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein on where the deal stands.
The club continue to work through plans to refresh the squad this window, and Minteh remains a central part of that thinking. Here is everything confirmed so far.
H2: September 2026 update: Liverpool’s £60m Yankuba Minteh bid rejected
Brighton have rejected Liverpool’s second bid of £60m for Yankuba Minteh, according to David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano. The Seagulls are holding out for a fee closer to £70m, though talks between the two clubs are continuing.
Romano confirmed the rejection directly, writing on X: “Brighton rejected £60m bid sent today but talks continue, as @foday_manneh reported.” That gap between the two valuations, around £10m, is now the main sticking point in negotiations.
Nothing in the reporting suggests the two clubs are close to a breakdown. Instead, the picture is of two sides still talking, with Brighton simply unwilling to move on their asking price for now.
H2: Broad agreement reached on personal terms
While the club-to-club fee remains unresolved, personal terms are further along. Romano reports that Liverpool and Minteh have a broad verbal agreement on contract terms, with the player having already said yes to the Anfield project.
“Liverpool and Yankuba Minteh have a broad verbal agreement on contract terms as the player said yes to the LFC project,” Romano said. That detail matters for supporters gauging how genuine the interest is on both sides: the player has effectively signalled where he wants to be, even with the transfer fee still unsettled.
A verbal agreement on wages is not the same as a signed contract, and no medical or official unveiling has taken place. Liverpool fans should treat Minteh as a target with strong intent behind it, not yet as a confirmed signing.
H2: Bradley Barcola remains top target alongside Minteh pursuit
Minteh’s arrival would not come at the expense of Liverpool’s interest in Bradley Barcola. Romano has been clear that the Gambian winger is not being pursued as an alternative to the PSG forward, who remains the club’s top target in that position.
“Negotiations are underway with Brighton as LFC are optimistic about signing Minteh. Not an alternative but in addition to Bradley Barcola, who remains the top target,” Romano wrote. That framing suggests Liverpool see both deals as separate pieces of business rather than competing options.
According to reports, Liverpool are also in ongoing talks with PSG regarding Barcola and his teammate Ibrahim Mbaye. Neither of those conversations has been confirmed as advanced, and supporters should treat the Mbaye link in particular as an early-stage report rather than a firm pursuit.
H2: Liverpool transfer news: Fabrizio Romano on the pursuit of Yankuba Minteh
Romano has been the central source on this story, tracking both the bid and the personal terms conversation in real time. His initial post on the proposal set the tone: “Liverpool submit £60m proposal for Yankuba Minteh after personal terms agreed with Gambian winger.”
That post came before Brighton’s rejection was confirmed, and it establishes the sequence clearly. Personal terms were sorted first, then Liverpool moved with a formal bid, and only after that did Brighton knock the offer back.
Romano’s use of the word “optimistic” is notable. It points to a club that still believes a deal is achievable, even after an initial setback on price. Nothing in his reporting, or Ornstein’s, indicates Liverpool are ready to walk away from the negotiation.
H2: What happens next
The next step belongs to Liverpool’s recruitment team. With personal terms broadly settled, the only outstanding issue is bridging the £10m gap between the club’s £60m bid and Brighton’s £70m valuation of Minteh.
There is no confirmation yet that a third bid is being prepared, and supporters should be wary of assuming one is guaranteed. Talks are described as ongoing, which leaves room for further negotiation without a fixed timeline attached.
In the meantime, the first team continue their own business on the pitch, building on results like their recent Anfield victory. Any resolution on Minteh, Barcola or Mbaye will be reported here as soon as it is confirmed by Romano or Ornstein.
Comments.
Loading comments…