22 July 2023 , 22:58
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Harvey Barnes is hoping to join Newcastle’s pre-season games in the United States - as Eddie Howe insisted the £30m sale of Allan Saint-Maximin will not break any Premier League rules.
Howe confirmed for the first time that Leicester winger Barnes is “a player I really like” and admitted it is possible he will join in the next few days to meet his new teammates. Barnes’ transfer is being funded by the sale of French winger Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahil, the Saudi Arabian club owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia - who also own 80pc of Newcastle.
Asked about transfer dealings Howe said: “Nothing confirmed on any deal in. Harvey is a player that I really, really like but he's still contracted to Leicester so that is as much as I can say.
"The same, no deal confirmed for Allan. The likelihood is he will leave, until that's done it is difficult to go into too much detail.”
Some Premier League rivals had asked for the valuation to be looked at given the ownership clash.
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Asked if it was a fair market value, Howe added: “It is difficult for me to say. I am sure it will satisfy the Premier League. The deal is not confirmed so it is difficult to give clarity and detail.
"We are governed by the same rules as every other Premier League club. We will ensure the deal is above board.”
Howe is “hoping for more” deals, including Tino Livramento, and added: “When you are chasing certain players there are frustrating days and it is not a simple process. Sandro Tonali has been excellent, but we are looking for more.”