Newcastle to turn attention to Harvey Barnes after missing out Foxes team-mate James Maddison

NEWCASTLE have made an enquiry for Harvey Barnes after also having an offer turned down for his Leicester team-mate James Maddison.

The Magpies, whose bid of about £35m was knocked back, are targeting a winger and a forward and have Barnes high on their list. Like Maddison, the Foxes value their homegrown star in excess at about £60million and the 24-year-old is thought to be happy at the club, after signing a new four-year deal last summer.

Leicester need to sell in order to provide boss Brendan Rodgers with transfer funds, while their next set of accounts are likely to show a significant loss. 

Eddie Howe is keen to add a winger and a striker to his squad before the end of the window 

As well as Newcastle’s interest in Barnes and Maddison, defender Wesley Fofana is admired by Chelsea.

Both Barnes’ last two seasons have been interrupted by injury but he has still produced impressive numbers.

He scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in the last campaign, after ending the 2020-21 season with 13 goals and four assists. He has been capped once by England.

If Maddison is still a Leicester player by the end of this window, he is likely to be offered a new deal, after signing his last contract in 2020. 

Newcastle have had a £40million bid for James Maddison turned down by Leicester this week

Leicester need to sell to allow Brendan Rogers some money to spend in the transfer market 

The 25-year-old playmaker has two years left on his current agreement, worth about £100,000 a week.

Though he has been largely ignored by England boss Gareth Southgate, Maddison has proved himself one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders and finished last term with 18 goals and 12 assists. 

Rodgers said earlier this month that Maddison had been in the shape of his life during pre-season.