The summer transfer window has closed, yet chaos surrounding missed transfers continues to ignite discussion in European football. One of the most intense and dramatic stories of recent months has been Liverpool's persistent attempts to secure 22-year-old Gambian winger Yankuba Mente from Brighton. Despite their failure to land him in August, the Merseysiders have not crossed his name off their list. Instead, the Reds are ready to mount a new effort to broker a significant deal come January, provided key factors align.
The information regarding the potential move for the African talent to Anfield is far from dead, as revealed by Gambian journalist Foday Manneh in an interview with Sport Witness. According to him, communication between the parties remains strong, and the outcome of a potential January transfer heavily depends on Mente's recovery timeline, physical condition, and Liverpool's potential reshuffle in their attacking lineup.
Summer battle for £80 million and a botched deal
Liverpool's efforts to sign the Gambian winger last summer were notably intense. The club tabled two official offers: the first was set at £50 million, followed by a second, more ambitious bid of £60 million. However, Brighton displayed resilience throughout the process. Initially seeking around £70 million for their rising star, they dramatically raised their asking price to a staggering £80 million in the final week of the transfer window.
The Merseysiders flatly refused to pay such a colossal fee for the winger, but it wasn't just Brighton's financial obstinacy that halted negotiations. A significant medical issue arose in August when Mente suffered a serious injury that required surgery, sidelining him for an expected two to three months. Choosing prudence over impulse, Liverpool decided to freeze the deal until the winter window.
Condition for a comeback: form post-surgery
Foday Manneh believes that a return to negotiations in January is a more than likely scenario. Liverpool is keeping a tight eye on every stage of the player's rehabilitation. The crucial question remains how quickly the winger can regain his former sharpness:
The only thing that's certainly in play now is the possibility of Liverpool returning for him in January. That option isn't being ruled out. Everything hinges purely on how quickly he can recover and get back into the game... A couple of bright performances will be enough to convince Liverpool's hierarchy that he is the player they are after. After that, they would definitely pursue the deal.
Gakpo's factor and creating space in the squad
A second key trigger for rekindling the transfer pursuit will come from internal changes in Liverpool's attacking setup. The uncertain status of Dutch striker Cody Gakpo at Anfield makes his potential departure in January a very real prospect. If Gakpo does exit Merseyside, the available budget and position will be promptly redirected towards securing Mente.
Manneh highlights this cause-and-effect relationship:
Gakpo's exit from Liverpool in January remains a real possibility. If Gakpo leaves in winter, it’ll be Yankuba they turn to immediately. They will return to negotiations and evaluate the chance to take him. But I’ll reiterate: the key point is whether Yankuba can return to football very soon and effectively play two or three matches. As soon as he demonstrates that, Liverpool's move in January will become more than likely.
Connections in England and the influence of a powerful agency
The journalist is convinced that Mente is firmly established in the elite of English football, making a move to a recognised giant merely a matter of time:
I’m confident that he will remain in the Premier League. I don’t see him making a move outside of England in the next two to three years. Of course, in transfers, you can never say never, and interest from foreign clubs is possible. But at this stage, I see him exclusively competing in the Premier League and eventually transitioning to a big club in the league.
Notably, behind the scenes of the summer saga, significant agency work was conducted, which hasn't disappeared now that the transfer window has closed. Mente's official representative, Bakary Bodjang, partnered with British agency giant CAA Stellar. Agency representatives maintained dialogue throughout the negotiation process:
Yes, Yankuba's agent worked closely with CAA Stellar. I know for certain that he partnered with them from the beginning of the process and stayed in contact up to the deadline. They handled the story from day one, were in direct communication, and actively helped coordinate the player’s transfer from Brighton to Liverpool.
If Mente makes a triumphant return to the pitch by late autumn and proves that the operation hasn’t impacted his phenomenal agility, and simultaneously Liverpool finalises the sale of Gakpo, a move to Anfield in January could emerge as the headline transfer of the coming winter.
