Yankuba Minteh's Dream Move on Hold: Brighton's Stance Explained

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler insists Yankuba Minteh can still chase his “dream” move – just not this summer, and not on Liverpool’s terms.

The south-coast club knocked back two sizeable offers from the Reds, first £50m and then £60m, as Andoni Iraola tried to add another weapon to his attack. Brighton held their line. Their valuation sat closer to £70m for the 22-year-old Gambia international, and they never budged.

Minteh arrived from Newcastle for £30m in 2024 and has grown into a key part of Brighton’s front line. Operating mainly off the right, he has produced 10 goals and nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls – not gaudy numbers, but enough to catch the eye of a club like Liverpool.

For now, though, Hurzeler wants the focus on Brighton’s season, not the one that got away in the transfer window.

Speaking before Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds, the German drew a clear line: collective success first, individual glory after.

“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,” he said.

The message was firm. Minteh stays, and he buys in.

Hurzeler stressed the winger is “definitely” committed to Brighton despite the failed move to Merseyside, underlining the bond built over the past two years.

“He wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge. He has been with us for two years now as part of the squad. He has achieved great things together with the boys,” Hurzeler said.

Then came the challenge.

“It’s also about him now to commit. In the end, we always say we want to be successful as a club and then you can shine as individuals.

“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.”

Brighton have seen this story before: develop, compete, sell big. Minteh might yet be the next headline departure. Between now and the next window, though, Hurzeler expects him to prove exactly why Liverpool came calling in the first place.