‘Should be cheaper’: Newcastle do not want to pay full price for 25-year-old star – journalist

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Newcastle United are yet to agree a fee with Leicester City to sign Harvey Barnes, with the Magpies’ interest in the winger now starting to drag on.

When Newcastle first made their move for Barnes, it did not look like an agreement was too far away. It has since been claimed that he has agreed personal terms and that Eddie Howe wants a deal done before the club travel to America.

That now appears to be increasingly unlikely, with an opening bid still not made. That does not sound encouraging, although it perhaps highlights the fluid situation between Newcastle and Leicester. There are ongoing discussions, rather than a back forth process of ‘make a bid, bid rejected, make an improved bid’.

Hopefully an agreement can be reached and Howe can get the player he wants. And now an update from journalist Ben Jacobs has hinted at why a fee is yet to be agreed.

Newcastle want cheaper deal for Harvey Barnes

Jacobs has been speaking to Give Me Sport about Newcastle’s interest in Barnes.

“I think that Newcastle feel like if James Maddison – who Leicester wanted £60million for – only went for £40million plus add-ons, that Harvey Barnes should be cheaper than Leicester are asking for as well,” he said.

“Now we have to wait for the formal offer to arrive. Newcastle are optimistic that they can get a deal done but, until they place that first offer, the picture won’t be clearer.”

Fair argument from Newcastle, but contract complicates matters

The comparison to James Maddison makes sense. If he cost £40million then Barnes should be worth less. While he is a talented player, he is a level below Maddison, who signed for Spurs last month.

However, Leicester can counter that by saying Barnes has a longer contract. His deal runs until 2025, while Maddison was in the final year of his contract. On top of that, there is probably less pressure to sell after receiving a cash injection courtesy of Tottenham.

As always, the truth lies in the middle. Barnes should cost less than Maddison, but his value is protected by a longer contract.

It looks like the 25-year-old is going to cost at least £30million, which would make him another expensive addition. But a compromise needs to reached, and it needs to happen soon. The more this drags on, the more it hinders the rest of our transfer business.