Liverpool to Revisit Ibrahim Mbaye & Yankuba Minteh Interest With Ismaïla Sarr Deal Unlikely

Liverpool's search for a new right winger to replace Mohamed Salah has been one of the most publicised transfer sagas of the summer. Having failed in their attempts to sign Yan Diomandé, Liverpool switched their focus to securing the transfer of Paris Saint-Germain left winger Bradley Barcola. This means that Liverpool's pursuit of a right-sided player is still ongoing months later.

In this pursuit, Liverpool were first linked to PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye in what would be an impressive double-swoop transfer, but the Reds are said to have been put off by the Parisians' high price tag for the Senegalese international. So, the club then moved on to other targets. First was Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, and Liverpool saw two bids rebuffed before standing off. Second, and the latest, was Ismaïla Sarr, for whom Liverpool have reportedly seen a 50 million pound bid rejected by Crystal Palace.

Speaking to Anfield Index, Liverpool reporter David Lynch explained the current situation surrounding the Reds' hunt for an additional forward alongside Bradley Barcola.

Lynch believes that Liverpool could revisit their interest in either Ibrahim Mbaye or Yankuba Minteh:

"Ibrahim Mbaye is one of those I wouldn't knock off the list just yet. I think he has the potential to come back into the mix", but "Yankuba Minteh is the one Liverpool have made the biggest push for so far. You wouldn't be completely shocked if they went back in for him and tried to find a compromise with Brighton."

Lynch also suggested that there is "no way" Liverpool will go back in for Ismaïla Sarr after their initial 50 million pound bid, which Lynch described as more of an "enquiry", was rebuffed immediately by Crystal Palace.

Shortly after Lynch made these comments, football journalist Foday Manneh exclusively revealed that Andoni Iraola has informed Liverpool's recruitment team that he specifically wants a "Minteh-type player", and that the Reds have reactivated their interest in Minteh himself after struggling to find other suitable options for the right-wing department.

Critically, Manneh also revealed that Brighton's asking price could come down, despite their rejection of Liverpool's previous two bids, if they are able to bring in a replacement. 

It seems Ibrahim Mbaye and Yankuba Minteh are the two most likely candidates to be considered, or reconsidered, by Liverpool's recruitment team as possible replacements for Mohamed Salah.

Both have very interesting profiles and stand out as facilitators rather than finishers. Whilst some will rate Minteh's Premier League-proven status highly, Mbaye's versatility and youth are strong positives in his corner.

It'll be very interesting to see which of the two Liverpool sign, if they do in fact revisit their original interest in the pair.

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