Newcastle United delivered further transfer blow by agent - will they ‘regret’ £30m decision?
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Newcastle United latest news: Former winger Yankuba Minteh has been linked with a move away from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Yankuba Minteh’s agent believes the winger has interest from ‘bigger clubs’ after an impressive 18 months at the Amex Stadium.
Minteh was sold by Newcastle United during the final days of June 2024 as they sought ways to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. Minteh, alongside academy product Elliot Anderson, were offloaded to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively, raising around £65m and ensuring they did not breach PSR.
Had they fallen foul of the rules, then they would have been handed a points deduction. Although his sale did ensure they passed PSR that summer, they may already be regretting that decision, particularly when you consider Minteh’s performances for the Seagulls against them since his sale.
The young Gambian winger has two goals in just three games against his former employers. That stat means that Minteh has scored exactly one-quarter of all his goals in a Brighton shirt against the Magpies.
Yankuba Minteh’s agent sparks transfer rumours
However, could the days of Minteh scoring against his former club for Brighton be coming to an end very soon? Well, according to his agent Bakary Bojang, Minteh has received plenty of interest in his services and has ‘bigger clubs’ sniffing around him ahead of the January transfer window.
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“I am very optimistic about that,” Bojang told Footy Africa. “I know bigger clubs are interested and monitoring his development. I just need Yankuba to keep focus and deliver; everything will follow.”
Minteh joined Newcastle United for just £8m back in 2023 before being immediately loaned to Feyenoord. The £30m they received for him less than 12 months later, therefore, marked a remarkable profit for a player that didn’t kick a ball for them.
However, Minteh’s successes at the Amex Stadium has seen his valuation rise exponentially and Brighton are also expected to make a tidy profit on the winger if they sell him in January or at the end of the season. Bojang, though, didn’t want to be drawn in on putting an exact value on his client.
“From my perspective, it’s always difficult to determine a player’s true market value before a transfer actually happens. A player’s value is ultimately defined by what clubs are willing to pay.
“That said, it’s very positive to see that his statistical value is rising, which indicates strong numbers and consistent performances at a high level.”
He added: “It’s difficult for me to say. Like I said before, the value will be determined by what clubs are willing to pay. But I believe Brighton value him that high. So if a club will buy him, they pay that amount or even more.”
Reports have suggested that Minteh’s valuation has soared to over £70m. That kind of fee would put him comfortably among the most-expensive players of all time.
Anderson, meanwhile, who was sold at the same time as Minteh, has also seen his valuation increase since leaving St James’ Park. Most recent reports have hinted that Forest would demand around £100m for the former Magpies man amid reported interest from Manchester United.