Feyenoord manager confirms Newcastle United stance on £7m star in impressive form

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has revealed the Eredivise champions were keen to sign Yankuba Minteh prior to his move to Newcastle United.

The Gambia international winger caught the eye of several clubs across Europe by scoring four goals and providing six assists in his first 17 senior appearances for Danish club Odense. Despite being linked with a whole host of clubs, it was Newcastle that won the race to sign the youngster as he became the Magpies first signing of the summer when he completed a reported £7m move to Tyneside in June.

However, the 19-year-old is taking the next step in his development with Feyenoord after joining the Dutch giants on a season-long loan deal - and his new manager has revealed that would have been a more permanent move had he got his way.

“Our scouts were also impressed by his year at Odense,” he told Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad.

”Then (Feyenoord General Manager) Dennis te Kloese came to the technical staff. Minteh went to Newcastle United and the English were looking for a club to loan him to. That’s how he came to us.

“Newcastle United has not made any requirements regarding minimum playing time or anything like that.”

Minteh’s introduction to life in the Netherlands has been impressive after gradually found his way into Feyenoord’s starting eleven over the first two months of the season.

A first goal arrived in his fourth appearance for the club as he found the net in a 5-1 win at Utrecht and the winger has gone on to score in home wins over Heerenveen and Go Ahead Eagles over the last fortnight. His form was take into the international scene as Minteh helped Gambia qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations when he scored his first senior goal in a 2-2 draw with Congo last month.

Speaking of Minteh’s form and the impact he has made with Feyenoord, Slot said: “He certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence. His willingness to give everything is enormous. When we see his statistics, it is really impressive. Minteh runs more sprint metres against Ajax in an hour (in the recent 4-0 Feyenoord win) than many other boys do in two games.

“He is incredibly fast. And he wants it so badly. For the remainder against Ajax we substituted him for Ramiz Zerrouki. He immediately accepts that. He recently shot Gambia to a ticket for the Africa Cup next winter.”

Minteh will be back in action on Wednesday evening when Feyenoord travel to Atletico Madrid in their second Champions League group stage fixture.