Newcastle United are aiming to seal a £6 million deal for Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, according to the Daily Star.
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has said that he will be staying with the club next season and wants to make their first season back in the Premier League a successful one. Therefore, he is reportedly willing to spend big this summer in a bid to avoid a relegation battle.
One of the players that Newcastle have been linked with is Burnley striker Ashley Barnes. Barnes has made 30 appearances for Burnley in all competitions this season, scoring six goals. However, he is not always guaranteed a place in the starting line-up with Andre Gray and Sam Vokes also in the pecking order.
Barnes began his career with non-league side Paulton Rovers before impressing on trial with Plymouth Argyle, who signed the striker. He was loaned out several times before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010. Barnes scored 53 goals in 170 appearances for the club before leaving for Burnley for a fee of around £750,000 in 2014.
In his first full season with Burnley, Barnes scored five Premier League goals and, after missing much of last season due to injury, he has scored six so far this season.
Barnes would be a useful signing for Newcastle but would have to compete with striker Dwight Gayle, Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy for a place in the team.
