According to The Athletic, Dan Ashworth ‘pushed’ for the signing of Yankuba Minteh and held back funds from the first-team budget to ensure he signed last summer.
12 months later, our outgoing sporting director is on gardening leave ahead of a move to Man Utd, but the fact Minteh was an Ashworth signing may help explain, in part, why the Gambian could be sacrificed this summer.
Of course, a big part of his sale surrounds PSR and Newcastle’s need to raise funds before the 30th June deadline. However, we also have to factor in Eddie Howe; who is not only a manager but a big voice at recruitment level now Ashworth has departed.
The Athletic report that Howe ‘was not involved’ in Minteh’s arrival from Odense last summer. While the boss was keen to take a look at the 19-year-old over pre-season, it’s quite conceivable that he would reluctantly sanction the sale of a player he didn’t actually sign.
Ideally, we’d have a buyer for Miguel Almiron before the PSR deadline, but his involvement at Copa America and reluctance to leave has blocked that avenue for now. Kieran Trippier’s future is also thought to be uncertain as the 33-year-old enters the final 12 months of his contract, although he’s also away at a major tournament. Callum Wilson is another who could be moved on for FFP reasons, but it seems the club prefer to line up his replacement before allowing him to leave.
Minteh leaving before he’s kicked a ball for the club is a real shame and he may have been put on a different path had Ashworth still been here. It just feels like he’s the player we’ve opted to sacrifice to avoid a points deduction or transfer ban; an idea Howe may have reluctantly accepted given he was signed by someone else and is yet to prove himself in our system or the Premier League.
Here’s a reminder of what Ashworth said when Minteh signed last summer, with it quite telling that he – not Howe or anyone else – was the only club official to react to his arrival on NUFC.co.uk:
“We are very pleased to be bringing a player with Yankuba’s high potential to Newcastle United.
“He has done extremely well in his first full season in Denmark, and he has a promising career ahead of him. We look forward to working with him in this exciting phase of his development, and we’re excited to see how he performs at Feyenoord, a club that also has a strong development record of its own.
“As well as supporting the first team with players for the here and now, we have a clear philosophy to invest in emerging talent and we want to provide a player pathway that will help to build and sustain long-term success.”
Didn’t the rat also say no to Wharton stating that 22m was too much, best in the business apparently
Porkpie(Quote)
It is a shame that Minteh had to leave before having a chance to play for the team. He is young and has potential heardle. Hopefully this is not a sign that we are panic-selling players to meet financial regulations.
Mia Jackson(Quote)
It’ll be crucial for the club to find the right balance between financial needs and building a cohesive team moving forward. Curious to see how this temple run 2 unfolds!
Jim Henderson(Quote)
Really interesting read about how Dan Ashworth prioritized signing Yankuba Minteh—even redirecting first-team funds to make it happen. That kind of vision shows why long-term planning matters so much for player development. Curious how these behind‑the‑scenes decisions ultimately shape squad evolution. A best photo booth app could be a fun way to spotlight young players’ progress with memorable portraits and fan edits!
thomas huis(Quote)
Loved the deep dive into the behind-the-scenes decisions at Newcastle. Reading this over a Dunkin Donuts refreshers made it even better.
Dunkin refreshers(Quote)
The article really shows how Ashworth’s exit affected Minteh’s future at Newcastle. Tough break for a young talent. Also reminded me to revisit FIFA 21 download PC for some classic gameplay!
Lalay onur(Quote)
Minteh leaving before he’s kicked a ball for the club is a real pipkinelectric shame and he may have been put on a different path had Ashworth still been here
dream(Quote)
Great breakdown of the behind-the-scenes decisions at Newcastle—really sheds light on how signings like Minteh come down to strategy as much as talent. It’s got me giving the club’s transfer planning a serious pretty scale score!
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Mason(Quote)
Interesting read on Minteh and Ashworth their impact this summer could be huge! After following football news like this, it’s always fun to relax and scroll through Dunkin’ Donuts menu photos for a coffee break inspiration.
Emma Johnson(Quote)
Great article on Minteh and Ashworth their roles could really shape Newcastle’s summer! It’s the kind of exciting insight that makes following football as fun as playing a game with unlimited rewards and features unlocked. Thanks for sharing!
SARAH WILLIAM(Quote)