Brighton star Yankuba Minteh speaks up about his early Newcastle United exit due to PSR concerns

Newcastle United fans were getting quite excited by the prospect of seeing their new young star, Yankuba Minteh in the black and white shirt after a successful loan period at Feyenoord.

The Magpies signed Yankuba Minteh from OB Odense in Denmark, but before the ink had dried on his Newcastle United contract, he signed another with Eredivisie side Feyenoord for a season-long loan.

Playing under Arne Slot at Feyenoord, Minteh caught the eye of many Newcastle fans as his development throughout the season was clear to see.

With Newcastle struggling down the right and side with Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy misfiring, fans were excited by the prospect of new blood on the right wing.

Yankuba Minteh took his Newcastle sale in his stride

Unfortunately, PSR concerns led to Newcastle having to sell Minteh to Brighton for £33 million around the same time they sent Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35 million. Nobody wanted to do those deals, but it was either that or face a points deduction.

Yankuba Minteh hasn't really spoken about his move before, but in a recent interview with The Athletic, the Gambian has lifted the lid on the move and reveals he holds no ill will towards Newcastle for moving him on before he was given a chance.

“I didn’t know anything about that because I’d never heard of it, that thing, ‘PFA’, or something like that [meaning PSR].

“I just heard from my agent that they wanted to sell me. I said: ‘OK, if they want to sell me, then it’s fine. I can go to another club and try. I know other clubs are interested in me, so if I don’t play there, then it’s an opportunity to play for another team.’ I wasn’t sad or anything like that.

“All I was doing in the Netherlands [at Feyenoord] was trying to show I could play in the Premier League, because that is all I want. It doesn’t matter if it is Newcastle, Bournemouth or Brighton, but, after finding myself in Brighton, I have fallen in love with the club now. I am settled here and I am good here now.

“I don’t have anything against Newcastle. This is how football works. You go to this team, you think you are going to stay there for the rest of your life. Another team wants you, you move to another team.”

Minteh scored at St James' Park in the FA Cup for Brighton

Minteh has had a decent first season at Brighton, scoring six goals and chipping in five assists in 31 outings for the Seagulls, including a goal at St James' Park as Brighton knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup, making amends for giving away a penalty earlier in the game.

It was unfortunate that we never got to see for ourselves what he could do in our team, but things have ultimately worked out well.

We'd definitely be cursing the fact we had to let him go a lot more were it not for Jacob Murphy turning into prime Ronaldinho all of a sudden.