Yankuba Minteh rejects Move. African footballers. Newcastle’s financial troubles have deepened as Yankuba Minteh refuses to join Lyon. The Magpies need to sell players by June 30 to avoid being penalized under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which could lead to a points deduction next season.
Newcastle and Lyon had agreed on a €47m deal for Minteh, who was on loan at Feyenoord last season. However, Minteh, 19, wants to stay in the Premier League and join Everton, rejecting the move to Ligue 1. Despite Newcastle’s urgency to complete the deal, Minteh insists he won’t be forced into a transfer.
Read more: Gambian star Yankuba Minteh Set to Leave Newcastle
Earlier this week, Newcastle ended their pursuit of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton would have considered selling Calvert-Lewin only if they secured Minteh, having offered €35m before Lyon’s €47m bid was accepted. Newcastle is now exploring other player swaps and sales as the PSR deadline approaches.
Minteh had an impressive season at Feyenoord, scoring 11 goals, 10 in the league. He joined Newcastle from Danish side OB last year for €7m and was immediately loaned out. The Gambia international gained Champions League experience and ended the season winning the Dutch Cup, although he was sent off during the final.
Read also: Champions League Giants Eyeing Talented Gambian Star Yankuba Minteh
In April, Minteh told Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, “Ultimately, the Premier League is my goal. Newcastle United has a lot of confidence in me. I have no idea what the future holds. I was in Newcastle once, when they played against Borussia Dortmund. we will soon hear what plans the club has for me. I’m still young, I have time, maybe they want to loan me out again. I don’t know yet, I’ll hear about it. I’ll let everything happen to me. I know only that one day I will play in the Premier League for Newcastle United.”
More about Yankuba Minteh
Yankuba Minteh (born 22 July 2004) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eredivisie club Feyenoord, on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United, and represents The Gambia national team.
Minteh is named after the river that flows through Gambia, with the country’s borders hugging its shores. He grew up in Bakoteh, a suburb of Serekunda, the largest city in Gambia, near the river’s mouth. He is the second-youngest of seven children. His father, a former midfielder and football enthusiast, was a passionate Bayern Munich fan.