The transfer window is open and Newcastle United have a big decision to make on young prospect Yankuba Minteh in the coming months. With profit and sustainability rules continuing to cause clubs financial headaches, the Magpies potentially have a kitty-boosting teenager in their side who can ease spending pressure this summer.
Feyenoord are keen to extend Minteh’s loan spell, while big-name European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool have been linked with permanent deals in light of reports Newcastle could be forced to sell at the right price.
However, the attacker is yet to kick a ball in the famous black and white – and fans will subsequently want to see him in action for Newcastle before seeing him shipped out for plenty of profit.
The transfer saga is bound to cause plenty of debate in the coming weeks, so with that in mind we asked our Chronicle Live writers to give their verdict on whether Minteh should be sold, loaned or kept at Newcastle this summer.
Lee Ryder
Being totally honest I was disappointed when I heard Newcastle were considering offers for Minteh given the promise he showed last season on loan in the Dutch League with Feyenoord.
Judging players from clips and highlights from a league that is below Premier League standard is difficult but he seems to get fans off their seats and he does have an eye for goal. Pre-season friendly games seemed like the ideal time to have a good look at the teenager and as things stand that is still going to be the case as he drops straight into English football’s shop window.
Loaning the player may have been a better shout but in the baffling world of FFP and PSR it can be argued that getting £40million for the player now is good business. I’m not sure if this means Newcastle have already made up their minds on Minteh, but it will certainly be a talking point in early press conferences this summer.
Verdict = Loan exit preferable but £40m may be too tempting to turn down
Ciaran Kelly
Nothing sums up PSR restrictions quite like the prospect of Newcastle United having to reluctantly cash in on Yankuba Minteh before the Gambia international has even played for the club. All because of the huge profit the Magpies would stand to make.
Much depends on Newcastle’s financial situation, and whether such a sale could help fund a move for another quality right winger who is ready to go, but I would like the black-and-whites to at least take a look at Minteh in pre-season. Remember how a good summer was the basis for another young talent like Lewis Miley to shine last season?
Newcastle can then assess the situation from there. If Minteh does enough to impress, the forward could be part of the first-team squad; if not, Newcastle could loan him out him again and see how he develops.
For those who feel this may be the best time to cash in, following Minteh’s productive spell at Feyenoord, the 19-year-old’s value will only increase further if he has another stint on loan in, say, the Bundesliga. This is a player who has a high ceiling and who has made impressive strides year-on-year since moving to Europe in 2022. There’s still a lot more to come.
Verdict = Find another shrewd loan move this season
🚨 🇬🇲 Borussia Dortmund want to sign Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United on a permanent contract.
Nuri Sahin is a huge fan of the young Gambia winger and Minteh is on the list of wide player targets this summer for Dortmund.
