Leicester City confirm Harvey Barnes status ahead of Newcastle United training ground visit

Newcastle United have agreed a fee with Leicester City to make Harvey Barnes their third summer signing.

A £38million agreement was struck with the Championship side on Wednesday. As reported by the Daily Mail, Barnes is due at Newcastle’s Darsley Park training centre later this afternoon.

Once finalised, the 25-year-old will link up with his new teammates in the United States for the Premier League Summer Series where they face Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 25-year-old was again absent from Leicester’s squad for yesterday’s behind-closed-doors friendly win against Belgian side OH Leuven. As per Leicester’s website, Barnes is “not match ready” having also missed games versus Peterborough United and Northampton Town.

The Foxes fly to Thailand today with Barnes left behind so he can complete his move to Newcastle.

NewcastleWorld understands the one-time England international has been preparing for a move to St James’ Park for weeks now having already viewed properties in the North East.

Barnes’ imminent arrival is set to coincide with the departure of popular winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who is close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli.

United head coach Eddie Howe revealed after Tuesday’s 2-1 friendly win at Rangers that the Frenchman is being sacrificed to bolster his transfer budget, which is currently heavily restricted by Financial Fair Play.

“I wouldn’t say it’s forced but Financial Fair Play forces that to a degree,” Howe said on Saint-Maximin’s proposed exit. “We could make a stance not to sell Maxi but we’d put ourselves in a position where we wouldn’t be able to sell Sandro [Tonali] or any other player so our hands would have been tied.

“We knew this summer the likelihood is that we would have to trade a player and [Saint-Maximin] leaving is what looks like will happen but until it does we don’t know.”

Barnes has statistically performed better at Premier League level, scoring 35 goals and providing 25 assists compared to Saint-Maximin’s 12 goals and 19 assists.