It appears that Newcastle United suddenly have a more concrete plan for what the future holds for Yankuba Minteh.

The 19-year-old has been enjoying a sensational season on loan at Feyenoord, having joined the Dutch side immediately after Newcastle United announced his £6million arrival at St James’ Park.

Yankuba Minteh has done very well in the Eredivisie, playing regularly for Feyenoord – including making his Champions League debut. He even helped Arne Slot’s side win a trophy, as they beat NEC Nijmegen to lift the KNVB Cup – although Minteh was actually sent off in the final.

Yankuba Minteh’s Newcastle United future has been up in the air

In recent months, there has been a lot of speculation over Minteh’s future. Feyenoord have been linked with re-signing him on loan, while there was even a crazy suggestion that Newcastle United could sell him.

There have also been claims that the teenager will get a chance with the Magpies this summer, as Eddie Howe prepares to take a closer look at him in pre-season.

That seems like a wise decision, as it will allow Howe to get a better idea over whether or not Minteh is ready for Premier League football. He can certainly perform in the Eredivisie, boasting nine goals and six assists.

But the Premier League is a level above, and that is why it appears Minteh is going to continue his development away from St James’ Park.

What the plan is for Yankuba Minteh next season

That is according to iNews, who have reported that their sources in Netherlands expect Minteh to return to Feyenoord for the 2024/25 season.

However, they add that he will only move back there after he has completed pre-season with the Newcastle United first-team.

That will give Howe the chance to see what Minteh is really like, and figure out how he will feature into Newcastle United’s long-term plans. That remains the goal, with the Magpies investing a fair bit of money into a very inexperienced player last year.

Another loan seems like a good decision by Newcastle United

But Newcastle bought Minteh because of his potential, and it has not taken him long to prove that he is going to be a shrewd addition.

The fact that Feyenoord took him on loan was an early signal of his quality, and he has backed it up with some really impressive performances in a red and white shirt. His numbers in the final third are decent, and they will surely only get better the more he develops.

That will be Howe’s goal, and will be interesting to see if Minteh, who was recently called ‘exceptional’ by teammate Igor Paixao, is able to kick on even more after working with the Newcastle boss this summer.

But the end goal appears to be another year on loan with Feyenoord, which seems like the best decision for all involved.

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