Gambian international Yankuba Minteh could be handed his preferred squad number if he completes a switch to Liverpool this summer.
The Anfield club have lodged a £50million offer for the Brighton wideman, which was quickly turned down by the south coast club. The 22-year-old is currently on the mend following a surgical procedure on his right leg after sustaining the problem during a friendly fixture against Roma earlier this month. While the injury is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately two to three months, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola had been eyeing the Gambian forward to enhance his attacking options before taking up his current role.
Should Minteh finalise a transfer to Anfield before the transfer window closes, he would have the chance to claim the coveted No. 11 jersey – identical to the one he currently sports at Brighton. This particular number has remained unfilled since Mohamed Salah’s exit from the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.
Upon joining Brighton, Minteh initially occupied the No. 17 shirt before transitioning to No. 11 last season following Simon Adingra’s move to Sunderland. Prior to his English adventure, the winger had only occasionally worn the No. 11 for Odense Boldklub’s reserve side.
Beyond inheriting the number Salah made famous, Minteh would also be stepping into the Egyptian’s position in the starting lineup. With the exception of Federico Chiesa, Liverpool currently lack another established right-winger in their first-team ranks.
Sources familiar with the potential transfer suggest Minteh would welcome a move to Anfield should the two top-flight clubs reach an agreement on the asking price. Brighton face no urgent need to sell, given the Gambian remains tied to the club until 2029.
Since his arrival at the AMEX Stadium in 2024, Minteh has contributed nine goals and eight assists across 66 Premier League appearances. Liverpool had initially identified him as a possible target earlier in the summer should their pursuit of Yan Diomande – who has since moved to Real Madrid – prove unsuccessful.
Additional options the Reds explored included Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Koln’s Said El Mala, with the latter recently committing his future to the German club by signing an extended deal. Liverpool’s league campaign gets underway on Sunday with a trip to Newcastle United.
The shortage of alternatives on the right side could see 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha handed a starting berth for the season opener, having been deployed in that position throughout pre-season preparations. During the US tour, the England youth international stated that the coaching staff have simply encouraged him to play his natural game, whether cutting inside or staying wide. He mentioned working on this versatility in training sessions, emphasising the importance of unpredictability. From the end of the previous campaign, his primary goal has been to secure regular playing time and as many starts as possible, with these upcoming matches serving as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his abilities to the manager amid a clean slate for the squad.