Harvey Barnes has said his move to Newcastle United represents a “massive opportunity” after completing a £38m transfer from Leicester City on Sunday.
The 25-year-old winger is Eddie Howe’s second major signing of a summer which has already seen the Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali arrive at St James’ Park from Milan for £50m.
Barnes has signed a five-year contract in the north-east, where he hopes the chance to play Champions League football next season can help him add to his one England cap.
“I’m delighted,” he said. “It’s an amazing club and, for me, it’s a massive opportunity to be involved in a successful team that’s doing exciting things, so I’m absolutely buzzing to be here.
“I think it’s an attacker’s dream to come into a team like this; it’s high-paced, it’s physically demanding but you can see the reward of that with the chances created and goals scored. I certainly think I’ll suit Newcastle’s style.”
Howe seemed equally delighted to sign a wide forward who appears destined to replace the Saudi Arabia-bound winger Allan Saint-Maximin on Tyneside. Saint-Maximin is finalising a switch to Al-Ahli for a fee in the region of £30m. “Harvey is an exciting talent who I have admired for a long time so I’m delighted to welcome him to Newcastle,” said Howe. “He’s strong, quick and very good technically, and he showed last season, in particular, that he has an eye for goal from wide positions.”
Despite scoring 13 Premier League goals last season Barnes could not prevent Leicester from being relegated to the Championship and was also courted by Aston Villa, Tottenham and West Ham this summer before opting to join Howe.
Although Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian majority owners are nothing if not wealthy, their room for transfer market manoeuvre this summer is restricted by Financial Fair Play regulations and Howe appears resigned to postponing his attempts to sign an extra centre-forward until at least January.
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Newcastle’s manager does, however, remain very much in the market for an additional right-sided centre-half and continues to try to prise the full-back Tino Livramento away from Southampton while also exploring the possibility of further strengthening his midfield.