Odense director Bjorn Wesstrom insists that a deal to take Yankuba Minteh to Premier League giants Newcastle United for around £6 million has not been completed just yet.
Not yet, perhaps. But it’s not far off.
According to the Northern Echo, Eddie Howe’s Champions League-bound have agreed a fee in the region of £6 million for the 18-year-old Gambian. Yankuba Minteh – one of a host of exciting teenage talents linked with Newcastle United since the appointments of both Howe and Dan Ashworth – is reportedly due to undergo a medical at St James’ Park in the coming days.
Wesstrom has already confirmed that Minteh will not be in the Odense squad for Saturday’s Danish league clash with FC Midtjylland as negotiations reach an advanced stage.
But those suggesting that this is a ‘done deal’ are, as things stand, wide of the mark.
Newcastle United close in on Yankuba Minteh
“We have not sold him yet,” Wesstrom tells TV2. “And that is the reason why we are taking him out of the squad (for this weekend).”
The Odense chief does admit that negotiations are in ‘the final phase’. Minteh admitted a few weeks ago that he would jump at the opportunity to join Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Callum Wilson and co on Tyneside, though Wesstrom would not confirm whether or not Newcastle will be his destination.
“We are in the final phase of the negotiations,” he adds. “That’s where we are. We haven’t sold any players yet.
“I have said before that we have spoken to clubs from the top five leagues, and I can still vouch for that. But which club and which league, I will not say anything about out of respect for the negotiations.”
Minteh, who has four goals and six assists in 17 top-flight appearances, has been likened to Lionel Messi due to his penchant for cutting in from the right wing.
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