The Premier League season kicks off next week and Newcastle United have been calculated in their business throughout the summer transfer window.

Dan Ashworth has brought in Nick Pope, Matt Targett and Sven Botman to improve Eddie Howe's options at the back for the 2022/23 campaign.

However, he is yet to sign an attacking player and recently missed out on a deal to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, with the gem opting to remain in Germany.

It has been reported that the Tyneside club are now turning their attention to Leicester's Harvey Barnes as an alternative to the Frenchman.

Their top-flight rivals are said to be demanding a fee of £50m for the winger and Newcastle must now work hard to sign him, as he would form a dream partnership with Allan Saint-Maximin at St James' Park.

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers recently hailed the winger, saying: "When I came in you could see the talent but he needed to score more goals and week by week he started to do that. I think the only thing that will stop him will be availability.

"If he can stay injury-free, and get that little bit of luck, you can just see his game coming together. He’s got that hunger and is gaining confidence all the time.

"What’s great about Harvey is he’s a very humble boy, he doesn’t get carried away with it. He comes in with a wonderful attitude."

The Englishman has proven that he has the quality to make a big impact in the Premier League by impressing with Leicester in recent campaigns.

Last season, the 24-year-old racked up six goals and 10 assists in 24 starts. This came after he managed nine goals and four assists in 22 starts in 2020/21. That comes to 15 goals and 14 assists in 46 starts, which is a goal contribution more than once every other match when named in the starting XI.

In Saint-Maximin, Newcastle have a winger with the ability to score and create goals, whilst getting fans off their seats. The Frenchman produced five goals and five assists in the top flight last season and completed a whopping 4.3 dribbles per game.

He has the ability on the ball to beat opponents at will but has not been able to make telling contributions in the final third at the same rate as Barnes.

Imagine how exciting it would be to have both of them in the same Magpies team in 2022/23, with Saint-Maximin producing the skills and occasional goal and assist, and the £50m dynamo being there in the final third to finish things off with a final shot or cross.

Ashworth must now sign the Leicester man to improve Howe's attacking options and form a dream duo on the wings at St James' Park.

AND in other news, In talks: NUFC make "contact" for "extraordinary" £25m target, he can be Howe's Zidane...