Newcastle closing in on £40m deal - Eddie Howe hopes to sign player in time for USA trip - Report

According to the Northern Echo, Newcastle are 'increasingly confident' of sealing a deal for Harvey Barnes before the start of next week.

They report that we've taken significant strides towards agreeing a fee with Leicester over the past 48 hours, with the club now 'close' to striking a deal worth £35m plus a further £5m in add-ons.

It's also stated that Eddie Howe is hopeful of signing Barnes before our trip to the USA next week. We are due to play Gateshead this Saturday and Rangers next Tuesday in our opening two pre-season friendlies of the summer. After that, we're due to fly out to the US next Wednesday ahead of Summer Series games against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton in the States.

It's hoped Barnes will be a Newcastle player by that point and in a position to travel with the squad, giving Toon chiefs a week to agree a deal and complete the formalities.

The 25-year-old winger bagged 13 goals last season - an impressive tally in an otherwise awful season for Leicester - and has 45 goals and 32 assists in 187 appearances for the recently relegated Foxes.

He's thought to be keen on a move to St James' Park and has already reached a verbal agreement over personal terms, according to The Telegraph.