Newcastle United fans were quick to spot that transfer target Harvey Barnes was once again absent from the Leicester City squad yesterday as they continued their pre-season.
Leicester City took on Northampton yesterday as they continued their pre-season ahead of a tough term in the Championship.
Newcastle fans noted that Harvey Barnes was once again absent from the team sheet, but more eagle-eyed fans spotted that his number seven squad number had been given to Wanya Marcal-Madivadua suggesting that Leicester are resigned to losing Barnes in the very near future.
Enzo Maresca wouldn’t be drawn on rumours linking Barnes with NUFC
Having said that though, it seems new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca is still trying to downplay the exit rumours. When asked about Barnes by The Leicester Mercury he said: “As I said in my first press conference, the market is open and so anything can happen – for us and against us.
“At the moment Harvey is our player and he has been training with us.
“In the last few days, he did not train because he has a small problem, but he is fine. We will see what happens in the future.”
“He was only able to return to training yesterday with us and that is why he was not here today.
“What happens in the future I do not know.”
It feels like Newcastle and Leicester know more than they’re letting on
Notably absent from his speech there, and indeed the Leicester Mercury article was the change in squad number and whether Barnes has in fact been given one. Even in pre-season players tend to wear their squad number in friendly matches, as was evidenced by other first-team players wearing their usual numbers.
There’s definitely more to this story than both Enzo Maresca and Eddie Howe are letting on after Howe offered up little information on progress relating to Barnes.
This one could be closer than we’re being led to believe.
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