There are rumours that Aston Villa have an interest in Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes and that Newcastle could let him leave this summer.
A few outlets have run with the idea of Newcastle selling Harvey Barnes this summer, and while we can see how that would be a believable story, we're still not buying into it.
Eddie Howe has repeatedly spoken about having two top players for every position, and Harvey Barnes' run of form since Anthony Gordon was suspended has cemented the idea that we have that for the left flank.
Of course, Barnes may not be happy with playing second fiddle to Gordon and could ask to leave in order to find regular first-team action, and we can believe that.
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Harvey Barnes could return to the Midlands this summer
Chris Waddle believes Harvey Barnes could go to Villa because he used to play for Leicester
What we can't believe so much, are Chris Waddle's logic leaps that he's come up with to suggest this transfer will go ahead.
The former Newcastle man has told Football Insider that Barnes' Midlands connection could be enough to seal the deal.
“I think there could be a possibility of that happening, you know, Eddie Howe, when he likes players and he gets in the players, he wants to keep hold of them, you know.
“[Jacob] Murphy’s had a great year, you know, great season, but players want to play and let’s be honest.
“Aston Villa are a big club so I’m sure Harvey Barnes, who was at Leicester for a long time, you know, maybe still has his house down in the Midlands, might be interested in it.
“Aston Villa will probably nick a Champions League spot, so if the story’s true [Villa interest], then I think it could be a good bit of business.”
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A swap deal could be the way to deal with Aston Villa
We aren't rubbishing the idea of Barnes to Villa, but and Chris Waddle could be right, Barnes may still have a house in the Midlands, but this answer reads like someone desperate to just say anything when asked a question.
It feels like those times when you'd catch out YouTubers on a stream with a fake player name and watching them wax lyrical about how good they are - instead of just admitting you don't know or don't have an opinion, you just make anything up.
We'll see what happens, though, it's not beyond the realms of possibility at all, but we expect that if Barnes were to go to Villa, we'd probably bring someone back the other way, given their PSR constraints.