£40m winger scores 14th goal of the season ahead of Newcastle United move

Newcastle United winger Yankuba Minteh made it two goals in two World Cup qualifier matches for Gambia as he scored in a 3-2 defeat against Gabon.

Minteh headed Gambia in front after 33 minutes before Gabon completed a second-half comeback following a floodlight malfunction. It follows on from his goal in the 5-1 win over Seychelles on Saturday and takes his seasonal goal tally to 14 for club and country.

It’s been almost exactly one year since Newcastle United signed Minteh from Odense for around £7million. The 19-year-old was subsequently loaned to Feyenoord for the 2023-24 season.

And it proved to be a hugely successful loan spell for the youngster as he scored 11 goals in 37 appearances including one in the Champions League. Minteh also helped Feyenoord win the KNVB Cup.

It was a season to remember for Minteh, who also scored his first goal for Gambia back in September and went on to represent his country at the African Cup of Nations.

Minteh’s impressive loan spell in the Netherlands has seen Newcastle value the player at £40million amid interest from clubs across Europe. Feyenoord were keen on taking the winger back for a second season but will be priced out of a permanent move while Premier League club Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the teenager.

New Liverpool manager Arne Slot managed Minteh at Feyenoord and spoke highly of the youngster’s ability.

“He has mostly played a lot in his native country, where very little tactics are involved,” Slot previously told Ziggo Sport/FR12. “When you’re that fast, though, it’s a huge weapon. One action and he’s gone, then you don’t catch up with him either.

“I think his choices are already getting better in the final stages. The only annoying thing for us is that if his choices get really good, he probably won’t play with [Feyenoord] anymore.”

Sources in Liverpool have claimed that the club are not actively pursing a move for Minteh this summer with the player set to join up with the Newcastle first-team in pre-season. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe is keen to take a closer look at the winger before making a decision on his future.

The Magpies are targeting a right-winger signing this summer.