Sport
Harvey Barnes could take his career to the next level at Newcastle
The sight of Newcastle United in next season’s Champions League will be proof of how far ahead of schedule the Magpies are. Few predicted them to finish in the Premier League’s top four places last season, yet Newcastle’s development under Eddie Howe far exceeded expectations. Their summer signings hint at further development to come.
Sandro Tonali has signed for the St James’ Park club from AC Milan with the Italian midfielder ready to take the next step in his career. The same could be said of Harvey Barnes who has been strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United following Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship last term.
Even as the Foxes fell to the second tier, Barnes caught the eye. The winger scored 13 goals in 34 appearances, prompting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham, but Newcastle are reportedly pushing hardest for Barnes who would be another project player for Howe to work with and mould.
In the right circumstances, Barnes could explode and there’s good reason to believe St James’ Park would be a good environment for him to reach another level. Like Alexander Isak, Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes, the 25-year-old could thrive in the structure Howe has built over the last season-and-a-half.
Allan Saint-Maximin could be pushed out the exit door to make room for Barnes with the French winger reportedly close to joining Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. While Saint-Maximin’s inconsistency has frustrated plenty at St James’ Park, Barnes is a more reliable operator, certainly in terms of his attacking output.
Most impressive about Barnes is his drive to produce in and around the opposition penalty area. Some wingers flatter to deceive in terms of their actual output in the areas of the pitch where it matters most, but Barnes isn’t one of them. In fact, his decision-making is often sharpest when inside the box.
Technically and physically, the 25-year-old is a high-potential player. Barnes plays the game at speed. He plays with inherent high energy and is an exceptional finisher, often finding the corner of the net with a bending right-footed shot that has become something of a trademark. Barnes seeks to get in behind as frequently as he can.
“He’s shown a really high level, and people want to get tight to him and double press him,” former Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers explained when asked to assess the performances of Barnes who was one of the few players at the club who could hold his head high last season. “I’m sure he’s only going to get better and better.”
Newcastle United moved to sign Anthony Gordon from Everton in the January transfer window, so Barnes’ switch to St James’ Park this summer would raise questions about the former’s standing, but the latter is a more consistent option at this stage of his career. Gordon remains a development player.
With Newcastle set to play in the Champions League next season, Howe must bulk up his squad to handle the demands of domestic and continental football. The Magpies are expected to move for at least one full back before the transfer window closes with the North East club still tracking central midfielders.
Another winger might not appear to be a priority given the options Newcastle already have in this area, but Leicester City’s relegation has presented them with an opportunity they can’t refuse. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Barnes could become a regular in the England squad. Newcastle could give him the platform to reach that level.
