Yahoo News Newcastle United to make reluctant transfer call as Howe faces crunch decision
Shola Ameobi admits that Yankuba Minteh is an exciting talent for Newcastle United - but his future now depends on a call from Eddie Howe.
The 19-year-old has capped an impressive season by scoring two goals in World Cup qualifiers for Gambia to add to his 11 goals for Feyenoord. Chronicle Live understands that this has led to interest from a clutch of European clubs wanting to buy the speedy young star.
Our information is that Newcastle are reluctant to sell the player that the Magpies paid £5.8million for only last summer. But in the world of PSR and FFP, any bid north of £40m would be too tempting to turn down.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe facing reality check this autumn as European truth hits home
When asked about Minteh, Ameobi told Chronicle Live: "Yankuba Minteh done amazingly this year. I think the vision for him was to see if he could play at that level. It was a big jump coming from Denmark with Odense but what he's done and the attitude he's got he's achieved that. He is athletically gifted but we knew he would develop tactically and technically.
"Over the last six months, he's come on leaps and bounds. It was great having a manager like Arne Slot developing young players like that."
Ameobi has made his fair share of flights across the North Sea this year to watch Minteh in action for Feyenoord. Reflecting on his performances at the back end of the season, Ameobi said: "We are so excited about what he brings. It will all depend on whether Eddie thinks he is ready for us right now, but we know we have a talent and we are going make sure we keep that journey going."
Another of Ameobi's Toon loanees in Garang Kuol endured the other side of the coin in Holland last season. The 19-year-old Australia international made just 15 appearances with Dutch side Volendam before being frozen out because of a change in management. However, he signed off for the season on a high for Newcastle when stepping to score an ice cool penalty in a shoot-out against Tottenham Hotspur to help win the game.
Ameobi said: "I had my heart in my mouth. It has been a difficult period for him in the last six months. He was over in Volendam and it was difficult. I knew how excited he was when he took the call to travel to Australia with the first-team.
"It was his opportunity to make his debut in a black and white shirt and do it at home. You could hear the crowd, they were really him. Garang was in a pressure situation in a shoot out and I was proud that he got the experience of doing that successfully."
Despite Newcastle enduring their fair share of criticism over the tour Down Under, Ameobi - who worked as an ambassador for the club at fan workshops and talk-ins in Melbourne - believes there was plenty to take away from the trip.
The former striker said: "To see Newcastle play at the MCG and experience that was amazing. The MCG is iconic. We know all about the Test matches we see on Boxing Day in cricket, so to see Newcastle play there and for the young boys to play in front of 80,000, you can't buy that.
"I always go back to when I was a kid coming through, being able to experience those type of grounds, friendly or not, it was the game of a lifetime. The fact that some of them experienced beating Tottenham was a great experience. The game was a sell out so it was a great experience for everybody."
Ameobi was given a standing ovation at the club's big fan event at Melbourne's Crown Casino during the week long stay in Australia.
Reflecting on the tour, Ameobi said: "Everywhere we go on tour our fans appreciate the fact we make the effort to go and see them. You see the passion and it is genuinely like being back at home!
"When we have events like this you could literally be stood in the Strawberry! That is the passion and connectivity all fans around the world have and it's great to experience that on the other side of the world, they know what it means to support the club because of the passion they have, it always comes through, it was like being on the Tyne when we were Down Under!
"A lot have travelled of course but tours like Australia and America some of them have moved over there. They have experience of the club. You see that when you are with them abroad so it is brilliant to be able to communicate with them. A few things have transpired in the last few years so they know the club is going places."
