New Premier League frontrunner emerges in race for £30m Newcastle winger

Newcastle United are still trying to raise enough money to fend off the threat of a points deduction for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

The best way that the Magpies can see to ensure they come in under the three-year loss limit is to sell a player, and given that the only player Newcastle have on their books that's generating any real interest is 19-year-old Yankuba Minteh, it's looking likely that the man they signed 12 months ago who has never made a single appearance for the club is set to be that player.

Minteh has stated his desire to remain in the Premier League after refusing to talk terms with French side Lyon.

Earlier this week a potential quasi-swap move with Everton which would have seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin fell apart over Everton's asking price for the 27-year-old striker.

Brighton now lead the way for Yankuba Minteh

There's still a chance that deal could be resurrected as both clubs need to balance their books before the end of Sunday, but inews now says that Brighton and Hove Albion are now leading the way in the race for Minteh.

The report claims that Brighton will offer £30million for Minteh but the deal will likely not include a buy-back clause for Newcastle which will come as a blow to many fans who are worried about Minteh leaving and becoming a star.

It's a valid concern after the massive strides Minteh took while on loan at Feyenoord last season, but it's also worth bearing in mind that there is a huge gulf in quality between the Dutch Eredivisie and the Premier League, so Minteh still has a long way to go.

It's looking like Minteh's exit is inevitable

Regardless of whether or not Minteh can fulfill the potential we all hope he has, it looks like he'll be doing that away from Newcastle as he edges ever closer to that exit door.

While we're not overly enamoured with the idea of signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, at least we were getting something back out of that deal with Everton.

Now it's looking like we're going to lose one of our promising youngsters and we'll have nothing to show for it except a zero points total at the start of the next Premier League campaign rather than a negative.