Here we go, Liverpool readying massive bid to sign African star

Liverpool are readying a massive bid to sign an African star.

Richard Hughes doesn't have long left until he joins Al Hilal and leaves Anfield behind him. The club's sporting director has had a tumultuous time at Liverpool.

From the triumph of the Premier League to hectic transfer windows where the Reds were publically rejected several times.

In his first window it was Martin Zubimendi and in his third window that player has been Yan Diomande. His second, to his credit, he signed a lot of key targets but so far they have not delivered.

It leaves Liverpool fans feeling a little irked by Hughes as he approaches the end of his reign. You want a competent sporting director in charge of the club.

Someone who feels like he knows what he is doing.

Yet over the last few weeks it has felt less and less like Hughes has a plan and more like he is throwing darts on a darts board with his eyes shut to see what lands.

Liverpool are now just hours away from opening their Premier League campaign, and their squad is a mess. Andoni Iraola is simply not being given the tools to make things work.

Things are going to have to change very quickly and very efficiently. But right now we are still seeing Liverpool negotiating over Bradley Barcola - something they have been doing for weeks and potentially months at this point.

It's a game of who blinks first and it's a dangerous game to play when the squad depth Iraola has at his disposal is so poor.

On top of Barcola, Liverpool are in need of another winger, who can also play on the right.

Ibrahim Mbaye is supposedly a target but senior sources at Liverpool have dismissed their interest has been nothing but exploratory for Mbaye at this stage.

So, who could Liverpool be actually going for? The clock is ticking and Hughes has to make a choice.

After missing out on Diomande, the right-winger market is bleak. Liverpool clearly saw the Ivorian at the ideal target. It was Diomande or bust.

But now they have to act.

Leaving it this late, with less than 10 days of the window remaining is a huge concern but reports are now surfacing that Liverpool are making a move for Yankuba Minteh.

This is a move that makes a lot of sense. Minteh is explosive, he works hard for his team and he can provide the creative spark Iraola's team needs.

The Daily Mail are now reporting that Liverpool are set to make another offer after having their first £50m bid rejected by Brighton.

That is quite a jaw-dropping sum already but it looks like Hughes is set to go in even higher for Minteh.

Whether the Gambian winger is open to the move and whether Brighton would be open to selling him is another matter.

It all just feels a little mess and a little last-minute. Like a student trying to cram in all their revision a night before their exam.