Nears new gains (5)

I believe the answer is:

earns

'gains' is the definition.
(I know this)

'nears new' is the wordplay.
'new' indicates anagramming the letters.
'nears' is an anagram of 'EARNS'.

(Other definitions for earns that I've seen before include "Deserves for snare" , "Gains by labour" , "Acquires by effort" , "makes money" , "Merits through work" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent and The Globe and Mail.

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