Aston Villa could have an interesting transfer opportunity this summer, with Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes reportedly keen to move to Villa Park for the new season.
According to Football Insider, the 28-year-old is delighted to be joining Villa, with former Villa chief executive Keith Wyness suggesting the player’s family situation could also influence a potential move.
This would be a useful boost for Villa, especially as Unai Emery looks to add more pace, goals and Premier League experience to the squad.
Barnes feels like a very Emery-style target. He is direct and sharp in transition, as he has already proven in English football.
He may not be the flashiest name on the market, but he knows the league well, can play on the left and has a strong track record of scoring from wide areas.
Newcastle United don’t want to weaken
The problem for Villa is Newcastle’s stance. A separate report from Football Insider claims that Eddie Howe wants to keep Barnes and sees him as an important player for next season, especially after the departure of Anthony Gordon.
That complicates the situation. Newcastle may need to rebuild their squad, but selling another attacking player would create new problems.
Barnes is currently one of their most natural left-sided options and Howe won’t want to lose him unless the offer is too good to refuse.
Perfect move for Aston Villa
This remains a remarkable event for Aston Villa.
According to Transfermarkt, Barnes will join Newcastle from Leicester in 2023 and his contract runs until 2028, putting Newcastle in a favorable position.
However, Villa can offer an ambitious project, European football and a manager with a clear attacking structure.
As reported by Reuters, Barnes showed his quality last season as well, hitting the winning double against Manchester City.
Villa have received some encouragement from their players, but Newcastle remain the dominant force. This may depend on the price.
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