At a glance
- Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh backed to develop further at Brighton
- Alan Smith doubts focus on goals but wider impact tells different story
- Brighton pathway seen as key to unlocking Minteh’s elite potential
Yankuba Minteh’s growing reputation has placed him firmly on Liverpool’s radar as they prepare for life after Mohamed Salah. Yet while some voices question whether he is ready for such a leap, there is a strong case that those doubts overlook exactly why Brighton & Hove Albion are the perfect place for him to thrive and why his ceiling may already exceed those concerns.
Smith is Wrong on Minteh as Brighton Remain the Perfect Place for His Rise
Former England striker Alan Smith has cast doubt on Minteh’s readiness for Anfield, pointing squarely at his goal return when speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk:
“He has had a good season. He is really strong and hard for defenders to tie down. I would say he has almost been more important than Mitoma. And he is only 21.”
“But he has only got a couple of goals. You need a bigger output than that if you are going to go to Liverpool and replace Salah.”
It is a familiar argument. Numbers matter, especially when the player in question is being linked to replacing one of the most prolific forwards in modern football. But reducing Minteh’s impact to a single statistic risks missing the wider picture.
More than just goals
Minteh’s season has not been defined by a lack of quality, but by circumstance. Under Fabian Hurzeler, he has faced stiff competition from Kaoru Mitoma and others, limiting his opportunities for a consistent run in the starting side.
Even so, his influence when on the pitch has been undeniable. Direct running, fearless attacking intent and an ability to stretch defences have made him one of Brighton’s most unpredictable weapons. Those traits cannot always be measured in goals alone, but they are often the foundation that leads to them.
Brighton’s track record tells a different story
If there is one club that understands how to turn potential into elite level production, it is Brighton. The development of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister stands as clear evidence of a system that builds players step by step before they make headline moves.
Smith himself acknowledged that pathway:
“They bought him for a few quid but they would certainly be able to sell him for more than £30 million.”
“We have seen that with the likes of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, with the profits they made on those two. I just think replacing Salah at Liverpool this summer is one or two years too soon for Minteh because he has not goal the goal output.”
That final point may be true in terms of timing, but it also highlights why Brighton hold the advantage. They can give Minteh exactly what he needs to close that gap.
Why the critics may be missing the point
The expectation at Liverpool is immediate impact. The reality for a 21 year old winger is that development is rarely linear. Minteh is already showing signs of a player who can dominate games, even if the final numbers have yet to catch up.
Crucially, he has already proven he can deliver end product, as shown during his time with Feyenoord under Arne Slot. The tools are there. What he needs now is refinement, not relocation.
Brighton’s edge in the bigger picture
Staying with Brighton is not a compromise. It is an opportunity. Regular minutes, a system built for attacking players and a track record of progression all point in one direction.
Liverpool may well return for Minteh in the future. If they do, it is likely to be for a player who has added consistency to his explosiveness and goals to his game.
For now, the narrative that he is not ready says more about the scale of the task at Anfield than it does about his ability. And if Brighton continue to shape his development, it may not be long before “a couple of goals” becomes a figure no one is questioning anymore.
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