Yankuba Minteh has reportedly emerged as a target for Liverpool, just over a year after Newcastle United sold him to Brighton.
Both Elliot Anderson and Minteh have flourished since leaving Newcastle — a contrast that’s hard to ignore as Anthony Elanga continues to struggle at St James’ Park.
Elanga joined Newcastle in a £55 million deal from Nottingham Forest to fill the right-wing role and was expected to make an immediate impact given his Premier League experience. The Swedish international recorded six goals and 11 assists in the league last season, but since arriving at Newcastle, he has yet to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League.
Bryan Mbeumo, who Newcastle once pursued but ultimately chose to join Manchester United, has been in impressive form for the Red Devils, averaging a goal every other game with six goals in 12 appearances.
Meanwhile, Sky has reduced the cost of its Essential TV and Sky Sports package for the 2025/26 season, offering members a £336 saving and access to more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, and other competitions. This year, Sky will broadcast at least 215 Premier League games — up to 100 more than before.
Yankuba Minteh’s superb start to life at Brighton has been particularly painful for Newcastle fans, considering the Magpies originally discovered him and signed him from Danish club Odense in the summer of 2023. The Gambian winger spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Feyenoord under current Liverpool boss Arne Slot, excelling during his time in Rotterdam.
Newcastle had planned to bring Minteh into the first team as a right-wing option, but financial pressures and the need to comply with profit and sustainability regulations forced them to sell both him and Elliot Anderson.
Anderson has since flourished at Nottingham Forest, earning a regular spot in the England team — a development that leaves Eddie Howe with mixed emotions. While Howe never wanted to part with either player, Newcastle had little choice but to accept a £33 million offer from Brighton for Minteh.
Now 21, Minteh has become an integral figure for Brighton, and it’s hard for Newcastle not to feel regret over losing two players who could have been key to their current squad. Their departures arguably disrupted Newcastle’s transfer plans last summer, leading to the signings of Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga — additions that might not have been necessary had Anderson and Minteh stayed.
Minteh has already registered three assists this season, and his performances have reportedly caught Liverpool’s attention as they search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. Given his strong connection with Arne Slot, a reunion at Anfield would make sense — but Brighton are expected to demand between £60–70 million for their star winger.
Such a deal would see Brighton double their investment in just a year — and for Newcastle, it would serve as another painful reminder of how costly the club’s financial restrictions proved to be in losing promising young talent.
Leave a Reply