Newcastle United Eyes £7m Champions League Winger For January Return Amid Injury Crisis

Newcastle United, grappling with an injury crisis, is eyeing the return of £7 million winger Yankuba Minteh from his loan spell at Feyenoord.

Minteh’s stellar performance in the Dutch champions’ squad has sparked talks of his recall to bolster the Magpies’ squad for the upcoming January transfer window.

The 19-year-old Gambian talent made a significant impact since his summer move from Odense, quickly securing a loan to Feyenoord for the 2023-24 season. With four goals and two assists in 17 appearances across various competitions, Minteh’s recent Champions League goal against Celtic intensified discussions about his potential return to Newcastle.

Manager Eddie Howe expressed the club’s predicament, admitting the inability to directly recall Minteh due to the absence of a specific clause. “We can’t recall him,” Howe clarified, highlighting the potential for negotiations between the clubs and the player to terminate the loan agreement in January.

Newcastle faces a void in their winger positions owing to injuries sidelining Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy.

Howe, eager to fortify his squad options, emphasized the need for solutions. However, despite Minteh’s visit during his injury recovery, Howe emphasized the decision-making process regarding loaned players, hinting at a thorough evaluation before January.

“We’ll evaluate his situation, just as we do for all our loaned talents,” Howe stated previously, acknowledging Minteh’s commendable loan tenure but also emphasizing the differences in the Premier League’s competitiveness compared to other European leagues.

Highlighting Minteh’s talent and athletic prowess, Howe affirmed the youngster’s appeal and suitability for the Premier League’s demands, hinting at Newcastle’s interest in utilizing his abilities to bolster their squad in the challenging English top flight.