Newcastle United lead race for £50m star who West Ham are reportedly lining up to sign

Newcastle United retain an interest in signing Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes. And according to The Guardian, the Magpies are leading the race to sign him.

The Foxes are braced for bids regarding the 25-year-old having already offloaded James Maddison to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £40million last week.

Leicester previously valued Barnes at £50m but could be forced to accept a reduced fee following their relegation to the Championship.

The 25-year-old caught the eye in a struggling Leicester side last season, where he finished as the club’s top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions.

As well as Newcastle, Aston Villa, West Ham and Tottenham have also shown interest in Barnes, with the latter previously launching a joint bid for him and Maddison. However, it is the Magpies that reportedly lead the race at present.

United head coach Eddie Howe is fairly stocked in Barnes’ left-wing position with Anthony Gordon, who signed from Everton for £40million in January, Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Elliot Anderson to call upon.

That said, Barnes’ 35 goals and 25 assists during his 146 Premier League games is significantly higher than those players mentioned above.

Although there are pressing positions to strengthen such as left-back, Newcastle transfer officials have proven in previous transfer windows they will explore all opportunities, if the price is right.

West Ham have been heavily tipped to launch a move for the one-time England international with manager David Moyes close to banking £105m from Arsenal for Declan Rice.

But, as of a yet, Leicester are yet to receive a bid for Barnes, who, in the meantime, is back in pre-season preparing for the start of the Championship season on the first weekend of August.