Newcastle have leapfrogged Aston Villa and West Ham in the race to sign Leicester winger Harvey Barnes whose arrival could push a fan favourite out, per a report.
It’s promising to be a summer of great upheaval at Leicester following their relegation to the Championship. The headline exits thus far include Youri Tielemans who has joined Aston Villa on a free, while James Maddison moved to Tottenham for just £40m.
The Maddison transfer fee was smaller than you might expect for a player of his calibre thanks in large part to his contract situation.
Maddison only had one year remaining on his deal, while relegation to the second tier is also likely to have sparked a discount.
Another of Leicester’s finest assets – Harvey Barnes – may make way too. According to the Guardian, the speedy left winger certainly doesn’t lack for interest.
Indeed, the newspaper reported Barnes, 25, is on the radars of West Ham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham.
Spurs appear the least likely to secure a deal given they’ve struck an agreement to sign fellow winger Manor Solomon.
Ironically enough, Solomon’s agent recently confirmed Villa and West Ham were among those in for Solomon and one club in particularly did pique the Israeli’s interest before choosing Spurs.
In any case, the Guardian report it’s actually Newcastle who have surged to the front of the queue for Barnes.
Barnes in, Saint-Maximin out?
Manager Eddie Howe is gunning for a new left winger and a Barnes arrival could spell the end for fan favourite Allan Saint-Maximin.
The French maverick has delighted crowds up at St. James’ Park, though lacks consistency and was not a regular starter last term.
Saint-Maximin is understood to be courting interest from several Saudi Arabian sides. The Guardian suggest a Barnes buy and Saint-Maximin sale could be inexorably linked.
On the subject of cost, it’s remarkably claimed Barnes could move for an even higher sum than Maddison.
The Foxes are in a slightly stronger bargaining position than they were with Maddison given Barnes has two years left to run on his contract, not one.
In any case, the Guardian cite a hefty £50m asking price. Whether Leicester are forced into lowering their demands could depend on who – and how many – enter the bidding.
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