Aston Villa eye shock move for £40m Newcastle star with 'swap' one to watch - Report
by Andrew Reynolds · 9 May 2025, 06:45
Aston Villa are thought to be weighing up a potential move for a Newcastle United player who has been impressing in recent weeks following a run in the side.
Despite suffering from similar financial troubles that caused us PSR issues this time last year, Villa are still in the market for new additions, perhaps aware that several loan signings will return to their parent clubs this summer.
The i's Mark Douglas suggested yesterday that Newcastle could target both Villa and Chelsea now that the shoe is on the other foot from a PSR perspective heading into June's mini-window. However, it sounds like Villa also have one of our own in mind...
Villa eyeing surprise Barnes move?
As reported by Craig Hope at The Mail, Aston Villa are showing interest in Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes, who is thought to have a few Premier League admirers.
There was never any doubting his ability, but Anthony Gordon’s form had been keeping Barnes out of the team for the vast majority of the current campaign.
But since Gordon’s suspension and injury on England duty, the former Leicester man has enjoyed a spell in the starting lineup and provided some very important goals and assists along the way.
Given Gordon’s ability on the left-wing, Barnes could be one of our few sellable assets should we need to find room in the budget for improvements elsewhere, though Hope suggests a potential part-exchange may just be explored with Villa.
Part-exchange possible?
Reports suggest that Villa may be forced to make a sizeable sale this summer to avoid a PSR breach, similar to how we moved on Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson last June to avoid punishment.
One name that Hope mentions is Jacob Ramsey, who was linked with a £50m move to Newcastle last January as David Ornstein at The Athletic revealed our interest almost 18 months ago.
Hope suggests that Ramsey and Barnes could certainly be 'ones to watch' this summer with a potential trade not out of the question should the move suit both parties.
Looking elsewhere at Villa, Morgan Rogers would be an ambitious target able to play out wide or an attacking No 8, while Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana was tracked during his time at Everton.
