Liverpool ‘target’ completes move to rivals after club-record deal agreed with Newcastle United

Reported Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh has joined Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion after a deal worth up to £33m was agreed with Newcastle United. The initial cost will be £30m, with £3m in add-ons as the Seagulls prepare to make the 19-year-old their club record signing.

They paid just shy of £30m for Joao Pedro last August, but Minteh’s price tag has eclipsed that fee. Newcastle were keen to sell at least one player for a sizeable windfall before the end of June in order to keep in line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

The player completed his medical on the south coast over the weekend, denying Arne Slot a reunion with the player who spent last campaign on loan at Feyenoord. He played 37 times and scored 11 goals under Slot across all competitions in the Netherlands last term, and had been linked with a move to Anfield following Slot’s appointment as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

He joined Newcastle from Danish club Odense last June but never made a first-team appearance for the St James’ Park club. Merseyside rivals Everton had also been linked with the player, with Sean Dyche’s side ahead in the race before Brighton got involved.

Seagulls echnical director David Weir said: “Yankuba is a young talent that has attracted a lot of interest, so we’re delighted to welcome him to the club. He is an exciting attacking player with incredible speed. He had a very impressive campaign with Feyenoord, gaining experience in both the Champions League and Europa League. Now we will give him the time and support he needs to ensure that he settles in.”

Slot is clearly a fan of the player, as he issued praise earlier this year. He said: “If you are that fast, it is a huge weapon. One action and he is gone, then you will not catch up with him again. I think that his choices are already improving in the final phase. The bad thing for us is that if his choices become really good, he will probably no longer play for us.”

Minteh’s move to Brighton comes amid claims the Magpies are open to selling Anthony Gordon to Liverpool. The Daily Mail has claimed that the Magpies were ‘ready to sell’ the winger to the Reds - but a move broke down. Reports from BBC Sport claimed part of the deal would have seen Jarrell Quansah move the other way, something Liverpool were not keen on after a breakthrough year for the young centre-back as he made 32 appearances under Klopp.

Gordon joined the Magpies from Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton for £45m in January 2023 just a few months after Chelsea had an offer worth the same knocked back by the Toffees. Gordon scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side last term as he enjoyed what was arguably the best season of his career.

Newcastle will be under less pressure to sell Gordon to Liverpool following Minteh’s switch to Brighton while the Magpies have also agreed a £35m fee with Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson, who completed his move to the City Ground late on Sunday night.