No one could accuse the champions of resting on their laurels. After winning their first league title since 2017 last season, the club who signed one of Newcastle United’s up-and-coming talents on a loan deal in the summer transfer window are feeling the crown slip from their heads.
Despite the best efforts of Yankuba Minteh, ‘extremely dangerous‘ if inconsistent over in the Netherlands, the gap between Arne Slot’s Feyenoord and Peter Bosz’s PSV Eindhoven stands at nine points with only six games remaining.
But, with Feyenoord already confirming their first signing of the next campaign almost two months before the window is even due to open, Slot’s side appear to be wasting no time at all as they look to bounce back from a disappointing title defence.
Yankuba Minteh set for Newcastle United chance
HITC reported in March that Newcastle, despite Feyenoord’s desire to retain Minteh’s services for another season, had made the decision to bring the former Odense starlet back to St James’ Park, handing him the chance to fight for a starting spot at St James’ Park.
Minteh, despite coming in for some criticism during his time in Holland, has an impressive eight goals to show for his time at De Kuip in 2023/24.
And with Feyenoord confirming a few days ago that Anis Hadj-Moussa will be arriving after a fine run of form at Vitesse Arnhem, the Rotterdam giants appear to have finally accepted defeat and given up hope with Minteh. Hadj-Moussa, another left-footed right-winger, appears for all the world to be a like-for-like replacement for the Newcastle loanee.
“At Feyenoord, they think Hadj-Moussa is a very interesting player who needs to continue to develop in De Kuip,” explains reporter Valentijn Driessen, the silky Algerian reportedly joining for around £3.5 million (Het Nieuwsblad).
“As many others have done before under the reign of Arne Slot in Rotterdam.”
Minteh, who was likened to Lionel Messi by some during his electrifying spell in Denmark, will add further depth in the attacking positions at an injury-hit Newcastle. His emergence as a first-team player could potentially lead to more questions about Miguel Almiron’s future, the FFP-impacted Newcastle willing to consider offers from Saudi Arabia for the popular Paraguayan.
‘Extremely dangerous’
“Newcastle United will discuss (Minteh’s future) in April,” explained Dennis Te Kloese, Feyenoord’s CEO speaking to Algemeen Dagblad. “But he’s getting better. His speed is incredible and he’s still very young.”
Minteh scored a big goal in a 2-2 draw with PSV earlier in the spring, just days after his brace fired Feyenoord past Almere City.
“He has made an excellent impression in recent weeks,” Feyenoord’s Bayern Munich-linked head coach Slot tells Voetbal International.
“He showed again (vs PSV) why Newcastle were willing to pay so much money for him.”
Newcastle face Fulham at 3pm this afternoon.
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