Joey Barton rubbishes rumours linking him to npower championship – EPL News
Newcastle United midfielder, Joey Barton, has rubbished rumours linking him with a move to npower championship and has claimed he is happy playing in the Barclays Premier League.
Barton has been heavily linked with a move away from St. James Park and has publically reiterated his desire to leave Newcastle United. A number of Barclays Premier League and championship sides have registered their interest in the former Manchester City
midfielder.
Barclays Premier League giants, Arsenal, are interested in the 28-year-old English midfielder and Wenger wants the player to replace Cesc Fabregas, who is set to leave North London to join Barcelona.
Tottenham, who finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League last season, also registered their interest in the English midfielder as Harry Redknapp wants an experienced midfielder at White Hart Lane in order to mount a stronger challenge for the Premier
League title next season.
Moreover, Birmingham City, who will play their next season in the championship after being relegated from the Premier League last season, are also reportedly interested in Barton. The English international has played under Birmingham’s newly-appointed manager,
Chris Hughton, at Newcastle United and the Blues boss wants to reunite with Barton at St. Andrews.
Barton was unhappy with Newcastle’s decision to let go of their influential skipper, Kevin Nolan, to join West Ham United and claimed that he could follow Nolan out of Newcastle United. West Ham’s newly appointed manager, Sam Allardyce, also wants to reunite
with his former midfielder as he looks to recreate Nolan-Barton partnership at Upton Park.
However, Barton has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to England’s second tier league and has claimed that he wants to remain in the Barclays Premier League.
Barton confirmed, “Why would I drop down a league when I can more than hold my own in the Premiership? What benefit would it give me? None. I play this game to play against the best week in, week out.”
The 28-year-old midfielder’s current contract with the Magpies is set to expire next season and Barton is yet to be offered a contract extension.
Barton confirmed that he has not been offered any contract but he is happy to join Newcastle United for the preseason.
He said, “Contract negotiations not re-opened. Back to Newcastle United on Tuesday. Happy days.”
The Toons’ manager, Alan Pardew, has also confirmed that Barton has not been offered any contract extension and is happy to let the midfielder see through his contract at the St. James Park next season.
However, Newcastle United are likely to cash-in on their unsettled midfielder in this transfer window in order to prevent Barton from leaving the club on a Bosman transfer next summer.
Joey Barton was a revelation at Newcastle United as he played a huge role in Toons’ survival battle in the Barclays Premier League, scoring a decent five goals in 35 matches last season.