Manager says £6m star showing why Newcastle ‘were willing to pay so much money’

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Yankuba Minteh is ‘showing why Newcastle United were willing to pay so much money’ with the Premier League loanee making a big impression at Eredivisie giants Feyenoord. 

Now, no one is claiming that the £6 million acquisition from Odense in Denmark is the finished article. It’s been a regular criticism of Yankuba Minteh’s time in the Netherlands, the youngster often darting down cul-de-sacs while failing to pick the right pass at the right time. 

But, still, the building blocks are there. And Minteh – at the age of just 19 – is certainly heading in the right direction. The Newcastle United loanee now has seven goals in Feyenoord colours, backing up his brace against Almere City with another strike in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at runaway leaders PSV Eindhoven. 

And, according to Feyenoord coach Arne Slot, it is no mystery why Newcastle decided to invest a hefty £5 million sum in a then-18-year-old forward back in 2023. 

Newcastle United draw up Yankuba Minteh plan

“He has made an excellent impression in recent weeks,” Slot tells Voetbal International. “He showed again (vs PSV) why Newcastle were willing to pay so much money for him.” 

Former Netherlands international Pierre van Hooijdonk, meanwhile, believes it is only consistency and end product – or a lack thereof – which is preventing Minteh from taking his game to another level. With his 20^th birthday still months away, however, the Gambia international still has plenty of time to turn those weaknesses into strengths. 

Seven goals on loan at Feyenoord

“He is extremely dangerous,” ex-Celtic and Nottingham Forest frontman Van Hooijdonk tells Studio Voetbal on NOS. “Only he doesn’t know when and we don’t know when (he is going to pass the ball). 

“(Feyenoord striker Santiago) Gimenez hardly gets any passes from Minteh. Minteh is absolutely not reliable for Gimenez.”

HITC Football understands that, despite Feyenoord’s desire to retain the teenager for another season, Newcastle United have already decided to bring Minteh back to St James’ Park before incorporating him into Eddie Howe’s first team for 2024/25.