Yankuba Minteh transfer stance will provide headache Newcastle United diehards wanted to avoid

Yankuba Minteh has grand ambitions of playing Premier League football. For the past year he, quite rightly, thought those dreams would become a reality in the black and white of Newcastle United.

Now, as the first transfer 'deadline' approaches on June 30th, the diehard supporters of the Magpies are now facing the nightmare scenario of watching the 19-year-old talent ply his trade for another top flight English club.

Minteh has attracted interest from some huge European names in recent weeks but it is the prospect of playing Premier League football that is proving the biggest pull for the youngster at present. Personal terms were agreed over the weekend with an unnamed club, thought to be Everton, while the Toffees have officially returned to the table to try and get a deal over the line in the coming days.

READ MORE: Newcastle United transfer news LIVE as Minteh twist emerges and Wilson exit latest

READ MORE: Big signing, £40m fee met and £100m duo stay - Newcastle's three biggest transfer jobs this summer

Opinion is split on Tyneside over Minteh's future. Many feel it is a big risk to sell such a promising young prospect without even seeing if he has what it takes to make an instant impact at St James' Park. Others feel given profit and sustainability rules [PSR] and Newcastle's subsequent need to sell players before June 30, making huge profit on Minteh, rather than offloading a current first-team player, is a smart play.

One thing all Newcastle supporters will agree on, however, is the fact it will be a real nightmare watching Minteh shine at a Premier League rival rather than abroad where he would technically be out of sight and subsequently, hopefully, out of mind.

French club Lyon have pushed hard to get a deal done for the Gambia international in recent days. Reports suggest the Ligue 1 side were even ready to pay the £40m fee Newcastle have ambitiously pushed for.

This, on the face of it, seems like a huge stretch for a club of that size. After all, Lyon are expected to sell big-name players this summer, their current record transfer fee sits at €24m + €6m in add-ons for Joachim Andersen back in 2021, and given the fact Paris Saint-Germain have been responsible for 22 out of 25 of the highest Ligue 1 transfer fees ever recorded, while Monaco scoop up the remaining three. Lyon, usually, are nowhere near these type of expensive deals.

Wherever Minteh departs to, should he in fact be sacrificed in the coming days, it is a risk. Outgoing sporting director Dan Ashworth saw big potential when he pushed to sign the teen from Danish side Odense. The subsequent decision to send him on loan to Feyenoord has worked wonders. The fact Borussia Dortmund, Marseille, AS Roma and Brighton have all also been linked with his signature in recent days shows how highly-rated he is from those who have watched him across Europe.

But this is the modern, crazy world of Premier League PSR restrictions. Newcastle are in a position where they need to make tough decisions in order to balance the books.

Everton remain the front-runner to sign Minteh, meaning Newcastle fans will have the unfortunate headache of potentially watching him step out at St James' Park for the very first time. Instead of being in black and white, it may well be in Merseyside blue.