Newcastle United opened their chequebook this summer with the arrival of Yankuba Minteh from Danish side Odense Boldklub as they showed their hand for the first time. The Magpies have been some way behind the country's elite clubs in terms of youth recruitment and developing young talent for the first-team.
However, the completion of the takeover in 2021, the fine work done by Eddie Howe and his coaching staff to ensure Champions League qualification, has made St. James' Park a desirable destination once more. A return to Europe's elite competition remained a pipe dream at the start of the recent campaign but supporters' dreams are becoming a reality.
There's still a long way to go until the Toon are rubbing shoulders with Manchester City, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but their clear investment into youth prospects shines a light on their long-term approach. The Toon pipped a number of top clubs to Garang Kuol's signature last season and Minteh has become the latest prospect to move to Tyneside, albeit via Feyenoord to ensure he's able to obtain a work permit.
