Newcastle United remain locked in talks with Leicester City over Harvey Barnes with the Magpies set to make an opening offer worth $40m.

Barnes is Eddie Howe’s number-one attacking target after scoring 13 goals for the relegated Foxes last season. Leicester value Barnes closer to $52m- the same fee which was received for attacking midfielder James Maddison from Tottenham.

Harvey Barnes set to leave Leicester this summer

According to The Daily Mail, Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League played extra pressure to sell their star assets given the significant reduction in television revenue.

If a deal for Barnes can be thrashed out this summer, it is likely to spell the end of the road for entertaining winger Allan Saint-Maximin who had already fallen down the pecking order under head coach Howe.

Barnes would be Newcastle’s third signing of the summer following the Magpies’ moves for young Gambian prospect Yankuba Minteh, who has joined Dutch side Feyenoord on a season-long loan, and midfield maestro Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for an eye-watering $72m.