Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh was on course to join Liverpool in the final hours of the transfer window before an injury brought the proposed deal to an end, according to Sky Sports.
The 22-year-old Gambia international had emerged as a serious option for the Reds as they looked to strengthen their attacking options. Liverpool had identified Minteh as a player who could operate out wide, offer pace and explosiveness, and continue developing at the highest level.
The possibility of a move was not simply speculative. Liverpool had the financial and sporting capacity to complete a deal, and discussions had developed to the point where Minteh could have become a Liverpool player before the window closed.
However, his situation changed when he suffered an injury. With little time remaining to complete the transfer, Liverpool were unwilling to take on the uncertainty surrounding the player’s fitness and ultimately stepped away from the proposed operation.
The timing was particularly damaging for Minteh. Only a few hours earlier, his immediate future appeared likely to be at Anfield. Instead, the injury left him facing a return to Brighton, with the move to Liverpool no longer possible.
Late-window transfers can be decided by small margins, and in this case the winger’s physical condition became the decisive factor. Liverpool did not want to finalise a significant deal for a player whose fitness had suddenly become a concern.
The failed move also underlines the type of player Liverpool were prepared to pursue. Minteh was not viewed merely as another wide option in a Premier League squad, but as a young attacking player with the potential to develop into a more influential figure.
Since joining Brighton, the Gambian has become one of the young forwards attracting close attention in the English market. His ability to accelerate, beat opponents and improve over time has made him a profile capable of appealing to some of the Premier League’s leading clubs.
Liverpool’s interest therefore fitted a wider strategy of identifying emerging talent and investing in a player who could take another step forward in a top-level environment. The club had been in a position to act, but unlike transfers that fade after prolonged negotiations, this one was ended by an abrupt fitness issue in the final hours of the window.