Harvey Barnes is considering a switch from England to Scotland, after being snubbed by Gareth Southgate. The winger has only made one cap for the Three Lions, despite scoring 28 top-flight league goals in three seasons.
Barnes is eligible to play for Scotland through his grandparents, and reports suggest that he is open to a move after being ignored by Southgate. The England manager has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, including Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Raheem Sterling.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is said to be keen to sign Barnes, and the £39 million transfer would make him the most expensive Scottish footballer of all time. A switch to Scotland would give Barnes the chance to play in the World Cup, as Scotland are currently top of their qualifying group.
Former Scotland manager Craig Levein has been a long-term admirer of Barnes, and he predicted that the winger would one day play for Scotland. “He’s a top quality player,” Levein said in 2020. “Another good player added to the squad would be really important, and would give Steve more options.”
Barnes is yet to make a decision on his international future, but the signs are pointing towards a move to Scotland. If he does make the switch, it would be a major coup for Clarke and the Scottish FA.
