Yankuba Minteh believes he is ‘ready’ for a move to Premier League giants Newcastle United and Odense’s sporting director admits that a sale could happen during the summer transfer window.
No one should be rushing to call it a ‘Golden Generation’ just yet. But there can be no doubt that the future of Gambian football looks bright indeed.
In Adama Bojang and the aforementioned Minteh, the West African nation can hang their hopes upon two of the most exciting teenage talents anywhere in the continent. The prolific Bojang, who scored four times at the recent U20 African Cup of Nations, is reportedly a target for Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli and co.
Fellow youngster Minteh, meanwhile, is reportedly ‘very close’ to joining Newcastle United during the summer transfer window.
Newcastle United like Gambia wonderkid Yankuba ‘Messi’ Minteh
A skillful left-footed right winger nicknamed ‘Messi’ by some; Minteh has set up three goals and scored two himself during nine appearances in the Danish top flight this term.
And, according to sporting director Bjorn Wesstrom, it is ‘not inconceivable’ that Minteh is sold at some point over the coming months.
“I have been in dialogue with a number of top clubs,” Wesstrom tells TV3. “But we don’t know how it will end.
“There are always many rumours about a player who has the stats he has. And that is positive. We must have recruited him well!”
18-year-old Minteh is making no secret about his interest in a move to St James’ Park. With Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe now pulling the strings, Newcastle remain in the market for some of the game’s most exciting rising talents; Minteh joining Ivan Fresneda, Giovani, Arda Guler and co on the Magpies’ wishlist.
“I am ready to take the next step. It will only be good for me,” Minteh tells ViaPlay.
“Of course, I want to go to Newcastle. It’s a big club in the Premier League and they’re doing something good. They are fighting for a place in the Champions League.”
‘Extraordinary’
Tony Hermansen, the head of Odense’s academy, believes Minteh is a footballer of ‘extraordinary’ talent. A player with an Allan Saint-Maximin-esque ability to levitate the crowd out of their seats.
“It’s fantastic,” Hermansen tells Tipsbladet. “That’s the crazy thing about football. We’re talking about an 18-year-old who comes up and becomes a crowd favourite.
“He has some extraordinary qualities such as his speed. He catches the eye because something happens when he has the ball. At the same time, he has got something defensive in his game without taking the offensiveness away from him.
“Therefore, he is a player with huge potential.”
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