Newcastle United have emerged from the summer transfer window with a quietly impressive array of signings, Eddie Howe bringing together an exciting new chapter against the backdrop of much summer turmoil.
Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for a British record £125m fee. In his stead, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade have arrived, the latter emphatically announcing himself with a debut goal against Wolves at the weekend, sealing United’s first three points of the Premier League season.
Cashing in on Isak was a rueful thing, but the 25-year-old intimated in no uncertain terms his desire to leave St. James’ Park, and keeping him on would only have disrupted and tattered the harmony Howe has spent so long perfecting.
However, the number nine spot wasn’t the only point of reshuffle for the Toon, with Anthony Elanga landing as the man to strengthen the attacking right flank instead of other high-profile targets.
Why Newcastle signed Elanga
Newcastle signed Elanga, 23, from Nottingham Forest for £55m in July, signing a winger who believes himself to be “one of the fastest players in the league”.
This is true: Elanga clocked a top speed of 36.7 km/h when he broke free and darted 85 yards upfield to score against Manchester United for Forest last season.
Indeed, he adds quite the zippy dimension to Howe’s frontline.
But he wasn’t actually the first choice this summer. Bryan Mbeumo was chased before he opted to sign for the Red Devils, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was also of a vested interest, ultimately staying put despite fierce efforts from multiple clubs for his signature.
However, Semenyo’s £70m price tag was off-putting, but his excellent start to the season, a continuation of last year’s success, surely leaves some PIF officials regretting their decision not to make their move.
Interest could have been entirely waived from the get-go, though, had Newcastle kept their hands on another young and exciting forward.
Newcastle must regret selling £30m star
Yankuba Minteh is the man in question here, sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30m in July 2024 to turn the glare of PSR away.
Minteh had initially joined Newcastle from Danish side Odense in 2023 and spent the following season on loan with Arne Slot’s Feyenoord, and he left Tyneside having never worn the United shirt in a proper capacity.
It was a necessary sale, but Minteh, now 21, showed plenty of promise with the Seagulls last term and has started the current campaign off in the right way too.
Spanish reporter Jose Alberto Chozas even called him “public enemy number one for Newcastle fans”, for he has scored twice in two matches against the Magpies.
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In total, the right-sided forward has scored seven goals and provided six assists across 41 games for Brighton.
Minteh is so young and yet so talented and so comfortable on the Premier League stage. He’s not got the smooth lick of paint on his exterior that Semenyo has showcased over the past year, but the best times are still to come for this one, no doubt about that.
Matches (starts)
4 (4)
4 (4)
Goals
3
0
Assists
2
1
Shots (on target)*
3.0 (1.3)
1.8 (0.5)
Accurate passes*
18.8 (72%)
11.3 (55%)
Key passes*
1.8
1.5
Dribbles*
2.3
3.3
Ball recoveries*
4.5
4.5
Tackles*
1.5
1.5
Duels won*
7.3
7.8
The biggest difference, clearly, is that Semenyo has notched five goal contributions from just four matches so far, whereas Minteh has just one assist to his name.
A prolific touch has not yet materialised for the Gambian talent, but he really is just that: a top talent.
And the underlying data threads together a similarity of style that suggests that Minteh, with the right work over the next few years, could become a player of a similar standing in the Premier League.
Given that Howe has conceded that he did not want to sell Minteh before he could even make his competitive debut for the Toon, it’s clear that there is plenty of resentment underneath the decision to pass him on to a divisional rival.
Might Newcastle have been better off cashing in on Anthony Gordon, who had been linked with a move to Liverpool and who was tied to rumours of a £100m price tag?
As Minteh continues to go from strength to strength on the south coast, it’s one which will continue to sting Newcastle and Howe.