Yankuba Minteh has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer. Arne Slot is already familiar with him and understands that he will still require a significant amount of work at Anfield.
It’s no surprise that Liverpool is linked with a number of Arne Slot’s former players. With the Premier League transfer market set to start in a matter of days, many names known to the Dutchman have been linked with a move to Anfield.
The most recent addition is Yankuba Minteh, a 19-year-old who played for Rotterdam last season but is not a Feyenoord player. He is instead tied to Newcastle, which may complicate matters significantly.
According to The Telegraph, Newcastle may have to cash in on Minteh due to Financial Fair Play issues, thus opening the door for Liverpool. Although we are still in the rumour stage ahead of the window opening, this is a signing that Slot would most certainly be interested in.
The new Liverpool manager is a big supporter of the Gambia international, but he understands Minteh is far from finished. During his time at Feyenoord, the teenager was chastised for his crossing, which Slot was eager to improve.
Slot stated on the YouTube show Bij Andy in January: id: “That’s right, but I think that is also the reason why Newcastle United loaned him to us. They, just like us, see a lot of talent in him. But he’s not ‘finished’ yet.
“That is the place we currently occupy in the football pyramid. If he had such an overview of the ball to give every cross, he would have stayed at Newcastle.”
It’s not just on the pitch where Slot feels Minteh needs some work. The Dutchman admitted in March that the winger also needs ‘special treatment’ off the field.
“To determine whether he has really improved, I think we should take a longer period,” Slot said (via 1908.nl).
“When it comes to Yankuba… One player is just paying attention during a match review and with the other, after a minute and a half you no longer have the feeling that he is picking up very much.