While Newcastle United is currently primarily focused on Champions League qualification, it won’t be long before excitement starts to build regarding potential summer additions, with the rumor mill already starting to churn ahead of the upcoming window.

Harvey Barnes of Leicester City has been a subject of significant recent rumors, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey reporting earlier this week that the Magpies have “done their homework” on the talented Englishman.

Despite having two years left on his current contract, the 25-year-old is reportedly prepared to leave the King Power Stadium at the end of the current campaign, according to the attached piece for 90min. The Tynesiders are reportedly one team interested in signing both him and teammate James Maddison.

The forward, who was born in Burnley and was previously praised as a “real catalyst” by former manager Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season, has been a bright spot for the relegation-threatened Foxes in what has otherwise been a bleak campaign. It is hoped that the £40k-per-week player can repeat his outstanding form at St James’ Park.

Would Newcastle make a wise choice in Barnes?
The 5-foot-9 speedster, who has been a real reliable threat for the Midlands team lately, has so far tallied 42 goals and 32 assists in 181 games across all competitions. He has done most of his damage down the left flank during that time.

The wide man is a truly “unbelievable” talent, according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and a move to an ambitious team like Newcastle has undoubtedly been warranted, even though the former West Bromwich Albion loanee has only received one senior level cap for his nation.

For Eddie Howe’s team, it will be interesting to note that Barnes is said to have a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Marcus Rashford, Manchester United’s talisman, according to FBref. The two are both left-side wrecking balls for their respective clubs.

The two countrymen’s similar skill sets are also evident in their ability to score goals. Rashford, who has scored 28 goals overall and 15 Premier League goals, is slightly ahead of the Leicester star, who has ten goals this season.

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Barnes has recorded 85 progressive carries and 65 progressive passes from 28 league games this season as a marker of his front-foot approach, while the Old Trafford star has recorded 66 and 62 for the same two metrics, respectively, from his 29 league appearances. The two players also share a creative quality, as Barnes and the United star have both recorded similar numbers from their respective 29 league appearances.

People in Tyneside will find that comparison to Rashford intriguing because the Red Devils star has been on a tear so far this season, earning the manager Erik ten Hag’s praise of being “unstoppable” for his goal-scoring prowess.

Barnes’ potential signing would be a real coup for Howe and company, as Barnes would be their own version of the devastating forward who is currently starting to click with Alexander Isak as the focal point.