Liverpool's pursuit of Yankuba Minteh from Brighton & Hove Albion faces a significant hurdle as the club must meet a £70m asking price after seeing two previous offers rejected. The Independent reports that Brighton is steadfast in its valuation of the 22-year-old Gambian winger, who was absent during the Seagulls' 4-0 victory over Aston Villa due to injury.

Having already submitted bids of £50m and £60m, Liverpool is expected to present a third, improved offer before the transfer deadline next Tuesday.

Key points include:

• Brighton appears to be using Carlos Baleba's £70m transfer to Manchester United as a benchmark for Minteh's value.
• Liverpool is also considering Bradley Barcola, but negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain have stalled over a hefty £145m price tag.

In their recent match, Liverpool managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle, thanks to a last-minute penalty from Dominic Szoboszlai. Despite this, manager Andoni Iraola is eager to bolster his attacking options, aiming for greater width in the squad, with players like Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha filling the flanks.

Iraola, who has already added centre-backs Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo along with winger Victor Munoz, emphasized the importance of patience as the transfer deadline approaches. He stated, "Some deals you have to wait until the end... the end is the important picture, the one we will have on September 1."

Reflecting on the current market dynamics, he expressed his frustration with the uncertainty that comes with open transfer windows but acknowledged the necessity of adaptation as a coach.