The Sunday Express has reported 'Big Sam' has raided his previous club to take Fred to St James's Park.
Barber who joined Walsall from Everton played a crucial role in our 1987/8 Division Three play-off final replay victory over Bristol City. The two-legged final had ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw, and Barber saved two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout which determined who would have home advantage in the replay. Walsall won home advantage, and Barber kept a clean sheet as Walsall romped home to a 4-0 victory.