The summer window might have slammed shut, but the planning for January never truly stops and the whisper of unfinished business on the right wing is already starting to grow louder.
Replacing a legend is never a simple assignment. When Mohamed Salah’s glittering chapter on Merseyside finally drew to a close at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, the weight of succession fell heavily on the shoulders of sporting decision-makers.
Andoni Iraola and the recruitment team moved proactively, welcoming attacking reinforcements in Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola. Yet, neither profile offers that natural, out-and-out right-wing presence the club ultimately craved to fill the void left by their former talisman.
Behind the scenes, Liverpool’s pursuit of Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh was one of the window’s worst-kept secrets.
The Reds tested the waters with a lucrative £50 million opening bid, quickly followed up by an improved £60 million package. But the Seagulls stood firm, demanding a £70 million valuation for the 22-year-old Gambia international.
With a deal stalling and time running out, Liverpool ultimately opted to pull the plug, retaining Cody Gakpo who had faced late interest from Manchester City to provide crucial squad depth going into a gruelling campaign. Crystal Palace’s Ismailaar Sarr was also looked at before that particular avenue closed, leaving the squad to regroup.
Yet, if supporters were left wondering whether the pursuit of Minteh was completely dead in the water, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has just thrown open the door to a potential mid-season resurrection.
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Brighton Premier League clash vs Leeds United at the Amex the Brighton boss delivered a telling assessment that will immediately alert recruitment chiefs on Merseyside about a possible January revival.
"If the whole team is successful and the individual shines, then Yankuba will get a lot of attention again and he can then maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window," Hurzeler admitted, offering a fascinating glimpse into the player's mindset.
Minteh’s Premier League pedigree is obvious. With seven goal involvements in 34 top-flight matches last term, following a 10-goal-involvement campaign the year before, his explosive acceleration and defensive work rate made him an ideal tactical fit for Iraola’s high-intensity system.
Whether the winger can keep his head down. put current injury woes behind him and force the issue between now and the winter window remains the million-pound question. Hurzeler was quick to emphasise where the player's current loyalties must lie, even as speculation swirls around his long-term ambitions.
"He wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge," Hurzeler added. "He has been with us for two years now as part of the squad. He has achieved great things together with the boys. It’s also about him now to commit."
The Seagulls head coach knows how the modern football ecosystem operates, acknowledging that individual accolades are simply a byproduct of collective success.
"In the end, we always say we want to be successful as a club and then you can shine as individuals," Hurzeler said. "That is what we have proved in the past. If we achieve things together, the attention will come to the individual players and that will be the case also this season."
For Liverpool, the message is clear. The interest hasn't vanished, the player's ambitions are known, and the January window is just around the corner. If the Reds maintain their domestic momentum and Brighton stay in the mix, expect this particular transfer saga to spark right back into life when the market reopens in January.
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