Despite missing out on Michael Olise who is Bayern Munich bound, Eddie Howe is determined to bring a new right forward to Newcastle United.
It promises to be a busy summer for Howe and Newcastle, who will be immediately focused on selling a player or two before Sunday’s PSR deadline.
By June 30, Newcastle need to raise funds through player sales, to avoid a shortfall in their three-year rolling figures.
Yankuba Minteh is emerging as the player most likely to leave Newcastle, who could depart without playing a senior game for the club.
Newcastle staff think they are very close to selling Minteh for £25m, given he has agreed personal terms with an unnamed club.
Such a sale would then give Newcastle flexibility to explore the market themselves, hoping to add to Lloyd Kelly’s arrival on a free transfer.
Newcastle have been told Dominic Calvert-Lewin will cost £37m this summer, which could perhaps even be a deal that is concluded promptly, if there is sufficient interest on Tyneside.
But Howe’s priority target is arguably the addition of a new right-winger, someone who can complete his front line along with Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.
Newcastle’s recruitment team discussing a move for West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen
For a while it looked like Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise could be the player to arrive, but he has now chosen a move to the Bundesliga.
But according to The Athletic, all hope is not lost just yet, and Newcastle are still eyeing two ambitious signings.
Both West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville are still being discussed by Newcastle’s recruitment team, who recognise an opportunity to improve.
Of course, it would take a truly remarkable bid to prise Bowen away from West Ham, given the new contract he signed which extends to 2030.
West Ham believe that Bowen is worth at least £100m in today’s market, and would probably demand a fee even bigger than the one received for Declan Rice almost a year ago.
Therefore, Summerville, who Leeds could sell this summer after failing to earn promotion back to the Premier League, may be a more realistic option.
Minteh isn’t ready to play first team role for Howe
Of course, some Newcastle fans may be wondering why Minteh couldn’t have fulfilled his role himself.
But aside from the need to sell a player to ease PSR concerns, Newcastle also felt that Minteh wasn’t ready for such a role just yet.
According to the same report from The Athletic, once the club failed to qualify for European football for the 2024-25 season they recognised that Minteh would have diminished opportunities going forward.
Minteh was seen as someone who could have thrived in the Europa Conference League, but perhaps isn’t ready for the Premier League.
That being said, Minteh was shocked when Newcastle told him he would be sold this summer.