Newcastle United have been installed as the strong favourites to sign Burnley striker Ashley Barnes this month, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
Sky Bet have priced the Championship giants at an overwhelming 7/2 to land the forward before the transfer window cut-off on 31 August.
Newcastle are the favourites to land Barnes, with second-tier Leeds United at 8/1, Middlesbrough at 10/1 and Huddersfield at 12/1.
Barnes, 27, has slipped down the pecking order in Sean Dyche’s side this season, accumulating just 11 minutes from their opening two league fixtures despite the sale of Andre Gray to Watford.
However, he did play the entirety of Burnley’s 2-0 midweek League Cup win against Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers.
The spearhead joined Burnley from Brighton in January 2014 and has been a key player during their two top-flight campaigns.
OPINION
Newcastle are reportedly in the market for a new forward despite signing Joselu from Stoke last week. Barnes has an underwhelming scoring record at Burnley of 14 goals in 99 appearances, but he operates predominantly in a secondary striker role and is more than just a penalty box poacher. He has showed during Burnley’s against-the-odds rise under Dyche that he can cut it in the top flight, working centre-backs, holding up the play and offering a powerful presence in both boxes. Barnes might not be a goalscorer par excellence but he is a decent Premier League operator.