Newcastle United have got their valuation of Harvey Barnes all wrong.
The Magpies have been linked with signing the Leicester star in recent days, as Eddie Howe continues to search for a new winger.
It’s been reported that the Foxes want at least £50million for the 24-year-old. However, that’s a lot more than Newcastle want to pay. In fact, it’s double.
According to the Sun, the Toon believe Barnes is worth just £25million.
Newcastle will never get Harvey Barnes for that amount
If Newcastle believe they can land someone as good as Barnes for just £25million then they need to think again. In the inflated footballing market, Leicester’s number seven is worth so much more.
Firstly, he’s English. That automatically means you cost more. It was only last year that Manchester City paid £100million for Jack Grealish.
Secondly, he still has a good few years to run on his contract. His current Leicester deal doesn’t expire until 2025, meaning the Foxes are in no rush to sell.
Sure, they could do with the financial boost to help their transfer ambitions, but they would be losing one of their best players. And Barnes has proven over the past few years how good he is in the Premier League.
He’s been praised by some of the best, including Jurgen Klopp who called him ‘unbelievable‘. And the numbers back up Klopp’s kind words.
In 112 top flight appearances, he’s scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists. That’s 46 goal contributions, averaging almost one every other game. And we’re supposed to believe Newcastle think he’s only worth £25million?
Comparison to Allan Saint-Maximin valuation
While Newcastle target a new winger, a current Toon winger is being linked with a move away.
Chelsea and Tottenham are reportedly interested in Allan Saint-Maximin. And the Magpies reportedly value the 25-year-old at £40million.
His contract is a year longer than Barnes’ current deal, but is he really £15million better than Leicester ace? Or rather, is Barnes £15million worse? Statistically, no.
As mentioned before, Barnes has 46 goal contributions in three and a half seasons of Premier League football. In contrast, Saint-Maximin has 11 goals and 14 assists in 86 Premier League outings.
In terms of output, Barnes is a better player than Saint-Maximin. And in a perfect world we see them both in the same Newcastle team this season.
However, there’s no way that will happen if Newcastle don’t open their eyes and realise that their valuation is embarrassingly low.
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