Newcastle United need to sell, but who goes remains to be seen.
Newcastle United faces a challenging situation as they must offload some players by June 30th to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. However, each potential sale comes with its own complications.
For instance, while the club’s management thinks it’s time to sell Callum Wilson, manager Eddie Howe wants to keep him and has cautioned that finding a replacement will be costly.
Similarly, the club is open to offers for Miguel Almiron, although he has expressed a desire to stay, having declined an opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia in January.
Then there’s Bruno Guimaraes, whom no one at Newcastle wants to lose. Nonetheless, his £100 million release clause is a tempting target, and such a sum would allow the club to reinvest significantly. The downside, however, is that replacing a world-class player like Guimaraes would be a considerable challenge.
Yankuba Minteh’s Newcastle future is up in the air
Beyond the first-team stars, there’s Yankuba Minteh, a 19-year-old winger generating significant buzz after his loan spell with Feyenoord. Despite the excitement, there’s a possibility he may never play for Newcastle United.
The club is open to selling Minteh this summer, valuing him at £40 million. Several clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, have shown interest in the Gambian international. This presents Newcastle with a chance to profit from a player who has never played at St James’ Park.
From a profit and sustainability perspective, his departure is logical. However, in other respects, it doesn’t make much sense.
How some Newcastle staff feel about selling Yankuba Minteh
For many Newcastle United fans, the idea of selling Minteh would be devastating. This sentiment is shared by some within the club, as reported by HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey, who discussed the teenager’s future with Geordie Boot Boys.
Bailey stated, “If a good enough offer comes in, it will clearly look good on the spreadsheet in terms of profit and sustainability. I think that’s the way they are looking at it. However, there has been significant pushback from some areas of the backroom staff who are keen to give him a chance after his impressive loan spell at Feyenoord.”
He added, “In an ideal world, Eddie Howe would like to give him a shot, but the reality of profit and sustainability complicates matters. Will someone pay £40 million for him? It’s uncertain. If a good enough offer comes in, they might sell, but many at the club want Eddie Howe to at least evaluate him this summer.”
Newcastle must push to keep Minteh
From a financial standpoint, selling Minteh for £40 million, especially after buying him for £6 million just a year ago, seems like a no-brainer. However, if a club is willing to pay that much for him, it should signal to Newcastle that they might be making a mistake. Minteh is an immensely talented attacker with significant potential, and he could develop into a star at St James’ Park.
Considering Newcastle’s aim to sign a winger this summer, it seems illogical to sell someone who could evolve into exactly what they’re seeking. The primary issue is the profit and sustainability rules, and if Minteh is the only realistic sale option, he might have to go. However, there’s a fear that this decision could be one the Magpies regret, especially with some staff at St James’ Park eager for Minteh to stay.
