Newcastle transfer plans in tatters as Yankuba Minteh refuses £40m Lyon move
Newcastle star Yankuba Minteh is refusing to join Lyon.
And the dramatic development could cause the Toon huge financial problems ahead of this week’s Profit and Sustainability deadline on 30 June.
Newcastle and Lyon have agreed a fee of around £40m for a transfer they want to complete this week.
But Minteh has declined to discuss personal terms with Lyon as the 19-year-old wants to stay in the Premier League.
The winger is believed to have told club chiefs that he will not be forced into a transfer despite their desperation to conclude a deal.
Newcastle need to sell players by 30 June to make certain of avoiding a PSR charge and a possible points deduction next season.
They have concluded that selling Minteh is the best way to comply with the Premier League’s rules.
Minteh has not played a single minute for Newcastle as he spent last season on loan at Feyenoord.
He briefly arrived in the North East in a £6.5m deal from Danish club Odense Boldklub last summer.
Newcastle would stand to make a huge profit by selling the 19-year-old to Lyon, but Minteh is refusing to play ball.
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Minteh is understood to have told Newcastle that instead of talking to Lyon he wants to sign for Everton or stay at St James Park.
Everton have inquired about Minteh, along with Brighton, Roma and Borussia Dortmund.
However, the Toffees appear to have moved on and are close to completing the £17m signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille.
Newcastle need to raise around £25m in player sales this week, but their transfer dealings have been complicated by many of their biggest assets being away on international duty.
Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron are both playing in the Copa America for Brazil and Paraguay respectively.
And Kieran Trippier has started every game in England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly made an approach to sign Alexander Isak.