Romano: Liverpool agree personal terms with ‘unpredictable’ gem who ‘dreams of joining’ the Reds

Fabrizio Romano has reported that personal terms have been agreed between Yankuba Minteh and Liverpool over a potential move to Anfield for the Brighton winger.

The Reds have already seen two bids rejected by the south coast club in recent days, the second of which amounted to £60m (Sky Sports), as they pursue a late-window replacement for Mo Salah on the right flank.

The 22-year-old is currently sidelined for at least a couple of months with a leg injury he suffered in the Seagulls’ pre-season win over Roma a fortnight ago, but that hasn’t deterred the Merseyside club from testing the waters with a couple of unsuccessful offers for him.

(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Romano claims Minteh has agreed personal terms with Liverpool

According to Romano, Minteh would jump at the chance to sign for Liverpool and already has an agreement in place on personal terms, with the next step being for the two clubs to agree a fee for the Gambia forward.

The transfer reporter outlined (via the Daily Briefing): ‘Liverpool are working on a deal to find two wingers because, for sure Bradley Barcola is the priority and remains the priority, but they want to add one more to the squad.

‘For sure Yankuba Minteh from Brighton is a concrete option. They had two bids rejected – £50m and £60m. Liverpool remain in conversations with the player’s camp, but Minteh is not the only option for the winger position. he’s one of the names on the list.

‘Again, Liverpool have had two bids rejected, but they are expected to try again, but there are also more names available on the shortlist of the directors for Liverpool.

‘Minteh already agreed personal terms with Liverpool. He wants the move, he dreams of joining Liverpool after some African players did great there – from Mo Salah to his idol Sadio Mane – but for the moment we’re still waiting for a club-to-club agreement, which has still not been reached yet.’

(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

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Minteh bids suggest Liverpool are getting desperate

That the Reds are pursuing a player who’s set to miss the first quarter of the season through injury carries a sense of desperation from the Anfield hierarchy with just nine days remaining in the transfer window.

It’s been six weeks since Andoni Iraola openly called for reinforcements to his squad in his introductory press conference as Liverpool head coach, yet here we are on the morning of our first Premier League game of the season with zero permanent signings made since then.

That Minteh seems very much open to joining LFC should (in theory) be helpful, but Merseyside chiefs need to be careful not to allow Brighton to take them for a ride when it comes to a transfer fee for the 22-year-old, who for all his talents has not been prolific in the Premier League (just nine goals in 66 appearances).

We’d still rather have him than not sign a winger at all in this window – Fabian Hurzeler has hailed his ‘unpredictable‘ nature in the final third and we’d have every faith in the Gambian to develop exponentially under Iraola’s tutelage – but for now he’d appear to be the compromise solution if the pursuit of Barcola doesn’t come off.

We expect another bid from Liverpool for the Seagulls winger, who we’d think would be granted his ‘dream’ move to Anfield if £70m were to change hands.