Talks collapsing: Liverpool could now miss out on top winger signing

Liverpool’s talks with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Yankuba Minteh in the summer transfer window are under threat.

Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports on X (formerly Twitter) that the Seagulls are “currently optimistic” about holding on to the Gambian winger, with “no agreement in sight”.

The Merseysiders have seen two bids rejected for the right-sided winger, with the south coast-based outfit thought to be looking for £70m to seal a deal.

Are Liverpool unwilling to go £70m for Yankuba Minteh

It’s worth pointing out that Brighton are ‘optimistic’ rather than “certain” they’ll be keeping the player for another season.

And given prior reporting on the subject, the possibility remains that Liverpool can come in and sign the footballer before the September 1 deadline.

Plettenberg’s update on the matter, however, suggests the club may very well be uhming and ahing over the prospect of adding £10m or so to their last bid.

That’s an understandable position, given we’d have to accept we’d be without Minteh for the next two to three months while he recovers from injury.

Understandable… but Liverpool are playing a dangerous game

As things currently stand, Liverpool will be leaving Andoni Iraola with an unacceptably poor level of squad depth.

We’re already compromising elsewhere in the squad, with word coming out of the club that Liverpool won’t be adding any midfielders to the ranks. It’s forwards or nothing.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer after Barcola & Minteh now looks really possible after James Pearce update

Fine. Add some quality forwards then. If you’re going to leave the manager short of a midfielder with defensive instincts and short of a reliable right-back, you’d better damn well be ensuring he has a functional forward line to work with for the entire season.

And that includes backup for Alexander Isak beyond the reported two winger signings mooted.

We don’t think that’s a lot to ask for if the Basque head coach is expected to work his coaching magic with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield pivot.