Newcastle 'brace for frustrated Harvey Barnes' bids, replacement in sights

Newcastle United are braced for potential bids for Harvey Barnes but are reluctant to sell the 27-year-old, according to The Telegraph.

The outlet reported on 10 December that Newcastle view Barnes as a “valuable asset.” However, his limited opportunities have left the English winger “frustrated at not being able to start more games.”

The report further reveals that the Magpies are monitoring a potential replacement in PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko and have “extensively scouted” Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. This could hint at a contingency plan in case Barnes departs.

This development follows comments from finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that Newcastle might need to sell a player in January. This is due to avoid breaching profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations this season.

Newcastle face ongoing PSR restrictions and more sales are likely

Football Insider opinion

Newcastle continue to face ongoing issues with PSR following their takeover and significant spending in transfer windows.

The North East club sold promising talents this summer, including Yankuba Minteh to Brighton for £30million and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35million (Sky Sports).

The Magpies have restricted their spending in recent windows, and more sales could happen before they resume significant purchases.

Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Man City plan to move for Bruno Guimaraes and could take advantage of Newcastle’s financial struggles.

Last season, Eddie Howe’s team reportedly reached the brink of their PSR limit, which forced them to prioritise high-value sales. This situation might repeat, as they seem unlikely to spend without selling first.

Newcastle may also struggle to sign players in January due to their financial position [The Telegraph].

Howe acknowledged the difficulty of retaining all key players in January, citing the club’s PSR challenges. He said, “The days when teams don’t sell big players are gone” suggesting a major departure could soon happen.

In other news, Newcastle are readying a move to sign Bryan Mbeumo.

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