Liverpool have seen a second bid for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton.
Minteh was the latest name to emerge in the Anfield club’s efforts to strengthen their wide attacking areas despite being sidelined until late October with a calf injury.
An initial offer of £50 million for the Gambia international was turned down earlier this week while a follow-up understood to be for £60M has also been rebuffed.
But the Seagulls have not ruled out a deal as talks continue with the Reds, who turned to Minteh as an alternative to Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahima Mbaye.
Brighton are expected to command a £70M fee to part with the 22-year-old, who has recorded 19 goal involvements in 73 outings since joining from Newcastle.
However Minteh is currently facing several months out after undergoing surgery on an injury picked up with Fabian Hurzeler’s side in their recent friendly with Roma.
Meanwhile Liverpool have confirmed Curtis Jones’ departure to Inter Milan.
Jones cut ties with his boyhood club after 16 years to join the Serie A champions after both clubs reached a compromise on the midfielder’s price tag of £30M.
The academy graduate made over 200 appearances, scoring 22 times, in his time in the Anfield first team and was part of two Premier League title-winning sides.