Liverpool close in on next signing as fresh talks scheduled for £50m star

Liverpool may be about to commence their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United at St James' Park, but many supporters are more preoccupied with transfer window activity, or lack there of.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Andoni Iraola stated plain and simple "we don't have enough wingers", making his feelings pretty clear to both fans but also those higher up.

However, could that be about to change? As reported by Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport on Sunday, "fresh talks" will take place later today between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool over winger Yankuba Minteh. He adds that the Reds are currently weighing up "whether to make a third bid".

It was widely reported on Thursday that Liverpool had seen a £50 million bid rejected for the Gambian international. The 22 year old is purportedly very "keen on the potential move", which does suggest this move is likely to happen. One complication though is that Minteh is currently sidelined.

Following Brighton's recent pre-season friendly against AS Roma, he required surgery in his right calf, thereby forecast to be unavailable for at least two months. Nevertheless, Liverpool's hierarchy have identified him as their ideal Mohamed Salah replacement, following the Egyptian King departure for Trabzonspor, bringing to an end nine trophy laden, goal filled years at Anfield.

So, with just nine days to go until the transfer window closes on 1 September at 11pm (BST), Richard Hughes and his recruitment team have got plenty of work to do. As already noted, bringing in new wide attackers is Liverpool's focus, perennially linked with Paris Saint-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. So, would a move for Minteh prohibit either of those deals?

Well, David Ornstein of the Athletic certainly does not think so. Speaking on TNT Sports, ahead of Hull City's very enjoyable win over Manchester United, he stated that the Reds are certainly "prioritising" Barcola. Ornstein added that the Reds are aiming to bring in "both" the French international and Minteh, wanting the former for the left flank and the Gambian for the right.

Thus, expect a busy final week or so before the window shuts. Liverpool fans have been frustrated by the club's lack of spending so far this summer, to date only bringing in Jérémy Jacquet, Víctor Muñoz and teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe, as well as Ronald Araújo on loan. For now, Iraola has to work with what he has got, but another attacker might just be available to him by the time Nottingham Forest visit Anfield next Saturday, albeit the sidelined Minteh won't be one of those.

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