Liverpool starts talks for surprising £50 million signing after Yankuba Minteh deal falls through
Liverpool have started talks for a surprise £50 million signing after their plan to sign Brighton’s star Yankuba Minteh didn’t go through. The Reds had been trying to sign Bradley Barcola all summer and even pushed to sign Minteh, despite the Gambian being out for about three months after ankle surgery. But they decided not to go ahead because they didn’t want to meet Brighton’s high price.
With the urgent need for a new wide player, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Liverpool are now in talks to sign Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace. Turkish giants Galatasaray had also tried to sign Sarr, but Palace rejected their two bids. Romano reported that Liverpool have offered around £50 million and that the Senegal international is interested in the move.
Sarr, who has troubled Liverpool more than once on the pitch, was left out of Palace’s squad for their recent game against Everton. New Palace manager Pierre Sage said Sarr didn’t play because he wasn’t fully fit and they didn’t want to take a risk.
Galatasaray reportedly offered £34 million for Sarr, but Liverpool’s bid is closer to what Palace wants. Meanwhile, Liverpool still want Barcola but aren’t willing to pay the huge £145 million fee for the Frenchman. A move for Minteh seemed possible with two bids from Liverpool, the highest being £60 million, but Brighton’s demand of £80 million was too much.
So far, under new manager Andoni Iraola, Liverpool have signed winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna and Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes on permanent deals. Ronald Araujo has also joined on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
After losing key players like Mo Salah, Curtis Jones, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, Iraola knows they need more signings. “We will definitely sign some players,” Iraola told Sky Sports. “Some deals take time, but what matters is the squad we have on September 1 because right now we are still quite thin.”