​Liverpool would clearly prefer to bring Bradley Barcola to Anfield this summer, but the question remains whether a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s talented Yankuba Minteh is even more likely in the current market. The Merseysiders are reportedly keeping an eye on the Gambian youngster as a potential alternative if their pursuit of the Paris Saint-Germain winger stalls, according to talkSPORT. While there is certainly merit in hoping Liverpool can secure a successful move for the apparently unsettled Frenchman, there is also a growing sense that the club’s recruitment team is leaning on the window, waiting for Barcola to return from the World Cup and for talks to progress, before making a firm call.
With France widely viewed as favourites to go deep in the tournament, waiting for a definitive answer from a player on the world stage leaves the window with a sense of urgency that is hard to ignore. More pointedly, for a player who could still be swayed to remain in Paris or switch allegiance to a Premier League rival like Arsenal, should their pursuit of Morgan Rogers fall short, the timeline becomes even tighter. We have noted that this transfer window presents particular complexities for Richard Hughes and his colleagues, and Liverpool currently finds itself operating with a delicate balance of need and opportunity.
The club is completely exposed on the right flank and desperately requires not only a body to fill in but also the level of quality necessary to replace Mo Salah if he departs this summer. Yet with so many other areas demanding attention and funds, can Liverpool really entertain the possibility of a no from Barcola and still hold back on other significant business that might force the club to shell out a substantial fee for a PSG star? There is a case to be made for taking a calculated risk, but the number of available bodies in the squad remains worryingly low. It feels insufficient to guarantee that Andoni Iraola can implement his preferred style across all departments in 2026/27.
If Barcola is unavailable, the case for pursuing Minteh becomes stronger. He may be further behind Barcola in development, but Minteh could be brought in much sooner and, crucially, would free up financial resources to spread across the pitch. Reports have suggested a price tag of around £70m-£80m for Barcola, and if that option is closed, investing in Minteh could offer a more immediate solution while preserving additional funds for other positions.
If Liverpool are confident Barcola will join, then the plan should proceed as originally envisioned. If not, it appears the Reds are operating with odds that feel stacked against them, as they weigh alternatives and respond to the realities of the market. The summer window continues to demand careful navigation, and Liverpool’s choices in the coming weeks will be telling about how aggressively they pursue the right-wing reinforcement they sorely need.
In the meantime, the club’s situation on the right side of the pitch remains urgent. The balance between securing a high-calibre forward and ensuring a workable squad could determine whether Minteh becomes the interim solution or whether Barcola eventually seals a move that aligns with Kenny Dalglish-esque ambition: to fortify the frontline with a player capable of changing games and driving the team forward. The next steps will reveal whether Liverpool’s strategy is to push ahead with Barcola and the PSG link or pivot quickly to Minteh and reallocate their resources to address other gaps in the squad.