Newcastle United reportedly want to sign English winger Harvey Barnes from Premier League rivals Newcastle United but will have to pay £50 million for him.
According to The Sun, Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes is the subject of interest from Newcastle United over a possible move in the summer transfer window as they continue to look at bolstering their options further forward.
The Magpies look set to be busy in the final few weeks of the transfer window, with Eddie Howe still searching for his first attacking addition of the summer. A wide attacker has been high on Newcastle’s agenda in recent times. They tried to sign Moussa Diaby, but he proved to be too pricey.
Now Jack Harrison is on their radar, but Leeds United are trying to price Newcastle out of a potential deal, as are Everton in the case of Anthony Gordon. But The Sun has claimed that Leicester City’s promising wide forward Harvey Barnes is the latest name to be added to Newcastle’s wanted list.
A product of the Foxes’ academy, Barnes has been a first-team regular since breaking into Brendan Rodgers’s side in 2019 following successful loan stints with Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion. To date, the 24-year-old has made 145 appearances for the Premier League outfit, scoring 32 goals and providing a further 29 assists in the process.
The English international has been one of the most consistent performers for Leicester in recent seasons and has been a regular name on the team sheets on the left wing. But Barnes picked up a serious knee injury in 2021 that hampered his progression last term, despite enjoying his best goal return in a Leicester shirt with 25 direct goal involvements across all competitions (11 goals, 14 assists).
The Foxes have yet to find a breakthrough in the transfer market this summer. In previous seasons, Leicester have offset their spending by selling their star names. This summer, however, that does not appear to be the case, with the sale of Youri Tielemans still hanging in the balance.
Recent reports portrayed a bleak picture of their financial situation. Rodgers is adamant about losing his key players from last season, but his fringe players are not getting much of a look-in and the former Premier League champions will need to sell before going out in the market for a new signing.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are trying to pounce on their rivals’ lack of inactivity and have been working on a move to bring Barnes to St. James’ Park. The 24-year-old is direct in his running and is blessed with loads of pace and quick feet to operate in tight spaces.
Barnes is a lethal weapon to have on transitions due to his attributes, and his excellent work-rate makes him an excellent fit for Howe’s system in place at Newcastle. However, with Newcastle United a direct rival for Leicester City for a top-eight Premier League finish next season, the English international would not come cheap by any means.
The winger has a contract until 2025, giving them the leverage to hold out for a hefty compensation for his services, with the Foxes demanding a whopping £50 million for him. For now, it looks improbable that Newcastle will move for the England international, although things can change quickly in a transfer window.