Newcastle owners now told they have made a very clever decision about £6m player

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Before the big money arrivals of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento, Newcastle United were completing a deal for Yankuba Minteh.

The teenager was the first player to sign for Newcastle this summer, arriving for around £6million from Danish club Odense BK.

He is tipped to have a very bright future on Tyneside, but it will be a while before we see him play in a black and white shirt.

That is because Newcastle immediately loaned him out following confirmation of his arrival at St James’ Park. Minteh was sent on loan to Feyenoord, where he will spend the entirety of the 2023/24 season.

The 18-year-old is a fairly unknown prospect, but the club clearly believe that he has a lot of potential – otherwise they would not have invested £6million in him.

And he must be fairly decent already, otherwise the Eredivisie champions and Champions League club Feyenoord would not have agreed to take him on loan for the year.

It is an exciting move for Minteh, and the decision to send him to Feyenoord has been praised by the winger’s international manager.

Newcastle praised for Yankuba Minteh loan decision

Gambia manager Tom Saintfiet has spoke to BBC Sport about Minteh, and described the decision for Newcastle to loan him out to Feyenoord as ‘very smart’.

“You have to give a player of his age three or four years to know,” he said.

“Is it Holland? Is it England? We don’t know right now.

“It’s a different level physically and mentally but it’s a very, very smart move by Newcastle and the player that he goes to Feyenoord. The Dutch league is very good for young attacking players.

“This transfer gives him a little bit of time to enjoy himself. We don’t need to put on too much pressure from the start. Let him grow.”

Great chance for Minteh at Feyenoord

Saintfiet feels like the Eredivisie is ideal for young attacking players, which is great news for Minteh. It is also great news for Garang Kuol, who has joined Volendam. They also compete in the top flight of Dutch football.

For Minteh, it is great to get an opportunity at a club as good as Feyenoord, and to work with a manager as impressive as Arne Slot.

It will be really fascinating to see how he develops, and it will be interesting to see what level he is at when he returns to Newcastle next summer.

The move will be great for Minteh if all goes to plan, and it could have a big impact on Newcastle, who might get the chance to send more youngsters to Feyenoord if the Gambian impresses.