West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes, who is also on the radar of Newcastle United.
Despite the Foxes’ forgetful relegation from the Premier League, the one-cap England international enjoyed a productive and superb individual campaign, scoring 13 goals from his 34 appearances. Following Leicester City’s drop to the Championship, the winger wants to leave the King Power Stadium this summer and they are willing to sell him for £40m to help fund a squad rebuild.
According to The Guardian, West Ham were in pole position to sign Harvey Barnes from Leicester City last month but the entry of Newcastle United in the transfer race has changed the dynamics. Now, Newcastle are understood to be leading the race for his signature.
As for West Ham, David Moyes is a big fan of Barnes, 25, and he may look to tempt the winger to join his forces by offering continental football, after the east Londoners secured their place in next season’s Europa League by beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the Conference League final.
Harvey Barnes to West Ham—Should the Hammers enter a bidding war?
West Ham have explored a move for Harvey Barnes as manager David Moyes wants more quality on the left flank. Moyes currently has Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Maxwel Cornet as his options on the left wing, but he is open to moving players on this summer in a bid to freshen things up at London Stadium ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Cornet has struggled with injuries since joining from Burnley last summer and has been transfer-listed, while Fornals is set to enter the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Benrahma could be tempted to find a new adventure after playing a key role in West Ham’s Europa Conference League triumph.
As Moyes will have money to spend once Declan Rice completes his £105m move to Arsenal, he should request the board to enter the bidding war for Barnes, who enhanced his reputation further by scoring 13 league goals for a relegated Leicester City side this past campaign.
A left-winger by trade, the 25-year-old can also play on the right flank, and his speed, directness and flair combined with his work ethic and energy, would undoubtedly bolster Moyes’ attacking unit. Merely looking at his numbers for Leicester over the last four seasons, the one-cap England international would be an upgrade on both Fornals and Benrahma.
The ability to both offer a devasting threat from the wide areas as well as provide goals is something Moyes’ West Ham currently lacks. Barnes fits that profile, while his intent to press relentlessly illustrates his willingness to defend from the front is probably why Moyes is a big admirer of his talents.
Barnes has been loosely valued at around £50m a few months ago by Leicester but their subsequent drop into the Championship may have changed that price tag. In that case, West Ham cannot let Newcastle have a free run at Barnes and must go all out for his pursuit.
