Clearest sign yet that Liverpool are all in on Yankuba Minteh

Liverpool have been unsuccessful in their attempts so far to land Yankuba Minteh from Brighton.

The Seagulls knocked back Richard Hughes’ £50m offer for the Gambian - who is currently out injured following a preseason blow against Roma.

The Reds have a space on the right side of their attack for a new forward following the departure of Mohamed Salah on a free transfer.

Although the rejection for a Minteh deal may be hard to swallow do not discount the possibility of the Anfield side returning with another offer.

Liverpool will return for Minteh

There is still plenty of time to go in the window - and Minteh checks a lot of boxes for Reds’ recruiters. A tireless, direct ball-carrier - with a preference to play on the right - the 22-year-old coming on board would be a major step forward for Andoni Iraola.

And it would appear that Hughes and the Basque tactico are all in on signing the left-footed African attacker.

Because the Athletic is reporting that the approach for Minteh is likely to signal the end of the chase for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye.

Liverpool move on from Ibrahim Mbaye

“Liverpool are also in the market for a right winger, with The Athletic reporting on Thursday that they’ve had a £50million bid rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion for Yankuba Minteh,” the report reads.

“The Gambia international, who is currently sidelined by a leg injury, is viewed as an alternative to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye.”

PSG asking too much over Ibrahim Mbaye deal

Mbaye came into focus last week - with reports suggesting that personal terms had already been agreed between the Senegal star and the Merseysiders.

Local reporters have since walked back that interest - insisting that Liverpool never got beyond the “exploratory” stage in their dealings over Mbaye.

It’s believed PSG’s excessive asking price - around €50m for a relatively unproven teenager - was too much to bear for decision-makers inside Anfield.

Liverpool now appear to have decisively moved on from the PSG emerging star - putting all of their chips on Minteh regardless of his current injury.