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Sunday saw Harvey Barnes despite everything announced as a Newcastle United player.
The winger signed from Leicester City for a widely reported move of around £38 million.
So why did Eddie Howe signal to the 25-year-old?
Well, some cracking analyses (see below) from the Premier League official imply precisely why.
It is very exciting the prospect of Harvey Barnes being able to move up to an already impressive Newcastle United team.
The Premier League official explains why Eddie Howe signed Harvey Barnes:
The 25-year-old enjoyed the most productive scoring season of his career to date in 2022/23, scoring thirteen Premier League goals for Leicester City.
Coming from the left side, he showed us that his right foot can be fatal around the penalty consistently.
Connection with Wilson and Isak
Barnes is a tough runner who is hard to keep up with when he gets going.
This deserves to suit a Newcastle team that is most productive when launching quick breakaways.
Only Manchester United (102) have made more direct attacks than the Magpies (95) in the direction of the most sensible four, so beware of the winger who runs past the last defender.
Barnes made clever use of his speed for the Foxes, scoring a variety of goals last season.
Seven of his thirteen goals came from the left side of the box at an angle of 12 meters, due to surges in the area.
His last goal in a Leicester shirt, against West Ham United on the final day, saw him play a perfect double around the box before heading from the corner of the six-yard penalty area.
This is the Barnes brand, and it also produced almost the same effort at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Gone to Newcastle, he will need to exchange passes with Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak, for wall passes that take him into the danger zone.
What effect does this have on the starting eleven?
Barnes will most likely upgrade Allan Saint-Maximin, who has been connected in a move to Saudi club Al-Ahli.
Howe’s first-choice mix at the time last season saw Joelinton fill the left-wing spot with Joe Willock betting on him in that aspect of the central midfield.
If Barnes starts, we would possibly see Joelinton and Willock vying for a midfield spot, alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
Alternatively, Joelinton can be used as a right-wing striker.
Barnes, who may appear in the final stages of the summer series, is the ultimate artistic player.
In fact, he made 19 key passes in the entirety of 2022/23 for the Foxes.
His game is best suited to penetrate the surface and opposing goalkeepers with efforts on goal.
As the table below shows, his shot production and conversion rate compare well to Newcastle’s last campaign.
Barnes Newcastle forwards 2022/23:
The right to sign
With Wilson and Isak impressive in the forward role, Howe doesn’t want to make signing a centre forward his priority this summer.
Bringing in Barnes to compete with Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon for a spot makes more sense.
There is no doubt that Newcastle want to score more goals in open play.
The Magpies found themselves with just 48 goals in the open game in 38 games, the lowest among teams that finished in the top six.
Open goals of the six most sensible teams
This acquisition gives them the possibility to reach 50 years or more in the next season.
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