RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Football reporter Published 21 August 2026 Liverpool have had an improved bid of £60m for winger Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton .
But talks between the clubs are continuing, with the south coast club understood to be looking for closer to £70m for the 22-year-old Gambia international.
The move followed Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola's admission that his side do not have enough wingers for the start of the season.
However, the Spaniard said he was confident they will find a solution before the end of the transfer window.
Liverpool had a £50m bid for Minteh rejected earlier this week.
Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle for £30m in 2024, plays primarily on the right wing and has scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls.
The Reds have also explored the possibility of a move for Paris St-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye.
His fellow Frenchman and PSG team-mate Bradley Barcola remains Liverpool 's main target as they look to strengthen in the wide attacking areas before the transfer window concludes.
"As a manager, this is an easy one for me. I wanted the players for the first day on 13 July - everyone here and all the positions doubled with top-level players," said Iraola when asked about the transfer window before news of the second Minteh offer emerged.
"But you understand how the competition works, that [the] market is open and you start the competition. We have to adapt as coaches to this situation.
"I hate these two weeks or these 10 days that we have because there is a lot of uncertainty - but not in Liverpool , everywhere. But we have to adapt."
Since Iraola replaced Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach, the Reds have signed Victor Munoz for £34.5m and Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona.
Jeremy Jacquet, the French centre-half, also arrived from Rennes in a deal worth £60m, but that was agreed back in January.
In terms of outgoings, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left the club over the summer while Curtis Jones is in Italy to complete a £30m move to Inter Milan.
Iraola added: "You are asking me what we need - there are certain situations that for me are clear - especially now on the wing because we don't have enough players specific to play in those positions.
"And then in other positions, I think we have to be open-minded in the market to see situations that honestly can improve our team.
"It's not about signing because we need a player here. No, it's about improving the squad. And we have very good players already here, so to improve our very good players, you need like a specific level of player, yes."
In a separate interview with Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, he said: "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."
It's not the first time that Iraola has said words to that effect, having echoed similar sentiments during Liverpool 's pre-season tour in the USA when discussing Liverpool 's defensive options, and internally the belief at Anfield is that it will be a busy end to the window for Liverpool
On Jones' move to Inter Milan, Iraola said: "With Curtis, you know. I think it's still not official but there is an ongoing situation. I understood with Curtis. I talked to him. I think in the first or second training session we talked.
"I value him a lot as a player. He loved this club - it was very clear since the beginning for me - but I understood that probably the outcome was going to be what it has been at the end.
"I've never hid it - for me Curtis is a very good player. A very, very good player, but I understood straight away when he talked to me about his situation. It was a situation that could happen and it looks like it is going to happen."
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