Newcastle United and Brighton have ‘interest’ in familiar name as Graeme Souness lauds ‘dream’ summer signing

A key figure at Watford has opened up on speculation linking Hornets youngster Yaser Asprilla with a move to Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.

The three-times capped Colombia international initially joined the Championship club in January last year before spending the remainder of the season at former club Envigado. However, after officially becoming part of the Watford squad last summer, Asprilla quickly impressed at Vicarage Road.

His first full season in England ended with just one goal and two assists in 39 appearances in all competitions - but that has been enough to attract attention from Newcastle, Brighton and Spanish giants Real Madrid according to a report on Last Word On Sports.

The report has suggested the Seagulls are preparing to lodge a bid with Watford in ‘the next few days’ but they are set to be left disappointed after a leading figure at Vicarage Road gave a firm response in reply to a question over a possible move for Asprilla.

Speaking at a fans forum event on Thursday night, Hornets CEO Scott Duxbury addressed Asprilla’s future, saying: “I don’t know what he’s (Asprilla) looking to do, but he’s not leaving.”

Souness praises Magpies new boy Barnes

Former Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness believes Magpies summer signing Harvey Barnes will be ‘a dream to work with’ for Eddie Howe.

The former Leicester City winger made a reported £35million move to Tyneside last month and made an impressive start to his time as a Magpie after scoring twice in last weekend’s Sala Cup meeting with Villarreal. Barnes and Anthony Gordon will compete for a place on the left-hand side of Howe’s front three as the United manager looks to move on from the summer departure of French winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Souness has stated the Magpies boss will benefit from working with Barnes throughout the new season and revealed he would prefer for the former Leicester man in his side ahead of Saint-Maximin ‘365 days of the year’.

He told the Daily Mail: “As a manager, when you’re sitting in the dressing room at 2.30pm with your players, and you’ve got Allan Saint-Maximin in your team , you’re saying, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to get from him today — will it be the best version or will he disappear?’ He was a maverick, and I understand why supporters liked him. He does excite you. But with Barnes, you know exactly what you’re going to get at 3pm.

“He will do the hard yards, back and forwards, and he must be a dream to work with. I hope he does well up there. He looks like the sort of boy you’d want to do well, because he looks like he doesn’t complain. So, if you ask me, Saint-Maximin or Barnes? I’m going for Barnes 365 days of the year.”