At the end of the summer transfer window, Liverpool attempted to secure 22-year-old winger Yankuba Minte from Brighton to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah. However, the transfer fee proved too steep, prompting manager Andoni Iraola to pursue alternative targets.
Following this, the attacking flanks were bolstered by new signings Viktor Munoz and Bradley Barcola, who joined from PSG for a substantial sum. But the recruitment team isn’t finished yet and has now turned its attention to another Brighton star aiming for a potential free transfer.
According to TEAMtalk, the Merseysiders are keen on signing 29-year-old Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese international is currently recuperating from a serious hamstring injury, which forced him to miss the World Cup.
Mitoma's contract, which sees him earning £80,000 a week, is set to expire at the end of the season. Talks over an extension have stalled. The outlet outlines the situation:
The long-term future of Mitoma at the Amex Stadium is increasingly uncertain, as he enters the final year of his contract without progress on new discussions. Liverpool has maintained an interest in him, having valued him highly even before his move to Brighton from Kawasaki Frontale, and the club is now closely monitoring the situation regarding his expiring deal.
However, they will face stiff competition from Tottenham, now managed by Mitoma's former coach Roberto De Zerbi. Other interested parties include Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
But before Liverpool can finalise any move for the Japanese player, they are likely to offload Cody Gakpo, as Andoni Iraola's left flank is currently overcrowded.
