Newcastle United are reluctantly considering a host of offers to sell exciting young winger Yankuba Minteh after an impressive season on loan at Feyenoord.
Liverpool, who are now managed by the former Feyenoord manager Arne Slot are thought to be one of a number of clubs who have expressed an interest in the 19-year-old.
Slot was full of praise for Minteh when he worked with him last season and believes he has the potential to become one of the best young forwards in Europe.
However, Telegraph Sport understands there has also been strong interest shown in the teenager from clubs in Italy and Germany, and Newcastle are now reluctantly considering accepting bids of around £40 million for the Gambia international.
Minteh, who was signed by Newcastle’s former director of football Dan Ashworth last summer for just £6.5 million from Danish club Odense, was expected back on Tyneside for the start of pre-season in July. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is keen to take a closer look at a player who scored 10 goals, with five assists, in just 27 matches while on loan in the Netherlands last season.
That has seen his reputation rise across Europe and Newcastle have been asked to set an asking price.
Newcastle would prefer to keep Minteh but know they have to sell players this summer to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR) as well as fund their own recruitment plans.
Howe has made the signing of a new right-sided forward one of the top priorities this summer – West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Atletico Madrid’s Nico Williams have featured prominently in recruitment meetings – and the fact Newcastle will not be playing in any European competitions next season means Minteh’s game time would be limited if they keep him.
As a result, Newcastle feel it is in the best interests of both the player and the club to at least listen to offers for Minteh given the level of interest that has been shown in him.
Selling a player who is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Magpies would make it far easier to keep star players like Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle hierarchy are being forced to make difficult decisions because of PSR and although they believe Minteh could go on to become a top player, he is one for the future rather than the present and could be sold as a result.