Liverpool to Make Shock Move to Sign £8m Newcastle United Midfielder Joey Barton

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish plans another St James’ Park raid.

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Joey Barton’s contract situation at Newcastle, skysports.com understands.

Barton’s future at Newcastle has been the subject of speculation with the midfielder yet to agree a new deal at St James’ Park.

The news has alerted a number of clubs to Barton’s possible availability with both Aston Villa and West Ham credited with an interest in the former Manchester City man in the January transfer window.

Now Liverpool are believed to be tracking Barton following his superb season for Newcastle this term.

With Barton entering the final 12 months of his contract at Newcastle this summer, the midfielder would be an attractive proposition for Liverpool as he could be available for a cut-price fee.

The 28-year-old has been Newcastle’s standout performer this season on their return to the Premier League and he is widely expected to scoop the club’s Player of the Season award.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is thought to be drawing up his list of transfer targets and Barton could figure on it due to his success in linking up with Reds striker Andy Carroll while the pair were together at Newcastle.

Barton was the provider of eight of Carroll’s goals at Newcastle this season prior to his move to Anfield in January and Dalglish could look to reunite the pair as he tries to get the best out of his £35million signing next season.

SOURCE: Sky Sports

Alan Pardew is trying his hardest to keep Newcastle United’s top talent from following Andy Carroll out the door with the likes of Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and even Kevin Nolan being linked with moves away from St James’ Park so news that Joey Barton is now a Liverpool target will be treated with concern.

The troubled midfielder has been in excellent form this season and has helped to correct a reputation that was in danger of leading the former Man City man to remembered chiefly for his off field antics. The 28 year old is apparently an £8m target of Kenny Dalglish who appears to be wanting to add more creativity to his midfield.

The vast improvement shown by the likes of Lucas, Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles in recent months have helped to push the Merseyside club back up the table and the good form shown by Luis Suarez has helped to deliver an end product up front but now Dalglish wants to add playmaker Barton into the mix.

There appears to be a concern among Newcastle United players and supporters that owner Mike Ashley will not be putting his hands in his pockets this summer to help boost a fairly small squad. Alan Pardew is hoping that he will be handed a decent chunk of the £35m made from the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

The sale of the England international left the North-East club having to cope with the fairly limited abilities of Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi, Shefki Kuqi and Leon Best up front and to be fair to that hard working quartet, none of these strikers are prolific.

Merseyside born Barton would be something of a controversial signing, not least because he is still well remembered for his horror tackle on Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso a couple of seasons ago.

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Liverpool Joined By Juventus And AC Milan In Midfielder Transfer Merry Go Round

Alberto Aquilani’s transfer away from Liverpool is becoming more and more complicated.

AC Milan have joined the chase for Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

The 26-year-old remains hopeful of securing a permanent switch to Juventus, having impressed during a season-long loan spell back in his homeland.

But Serie A leaders Milan have entered the race for Aquilani as a replacement for playmaker Andrea Pirlo who himself is expected to join Juve on a free transfer this summer.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Aquilani’s boyhood club Roma all lead the chase with Juve for Pirlo, which could spell an end to any plans to keep the Liverpool man at the Stadio Olimpico.

SOURCE: Click Liverpool

The future of Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has long been up in the air.

Juventus have had the Italy international on loan for the season, and although they have been happy with his performances, they are unwilling to pay the price previously agreed with the Anfield club to gain his services on a permanent basis.

Now though, the transfer has taken another twist.

AC Milan have entered the race for Aquilani to replace the departing Andrea Pirlo, who will go to Juventus.

Could the AC Milan interest mean Liverpool get the money they are hoping for?

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Manchester United Plan Shock Move to Sign Barcelona Midfielder Javier Mascherano

Nou Camp star linked with Old Trafford move.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano. The former Liverpool man has failed to secure a regular spot in the Nou Camp starting eleven and was even used as a makeshift centre back in the Copa Del Rey Final and could be interested in a Premier League return.

Mascherano has barely featured in Pep Guardiola’s first eleven as young Spanish international Sergio Busquets continues to impress at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, this has led to the battler feeling frustrated on the bench, a situation the San Lorenzo born star has not experienced in his career.

The tigerish midfielder has started just 14 games for Barcelona this season, six of those in the Copa Del Rey, and may well be tempted by the chance of a move to the Premier League table toppers, regardless of the fact they are the arch rivals of his former side.

Ferguson has been linked with moves to bring a new defensive force into the centre of his midfield, not least because Owen Hargreaves seems no nearer to ending his injury woes. A move for Mascherano may appear at first surprising given his previous stint at Anfield, but his proven record at Premier League level will greatly interest the Old Trafford boss.

Barcelona paid £22m to sign Mascherano last summer and Pep Guardiola may be willing to offload the 26 year old to help balance the books. The Catalan giants are reportedly experiencing some financial problems and if a suitable offer was made then perhaps the La Liga champions would consider selling the Argentine international.

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Everton And Werder Bremen Prepare Bids For Unwanted £12m Tottenham Midfielder

Everton will face competition from Werder Bremen to capture the signature of want-away Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

The 26-year-old has been out of favour this season with the emergence of Gareth Bale and the signing of Rafael van der Vaart.

The Croatian international was linked with a move to the Bundesliga giants in January but was convinced by manager Harry Redknapp to fight for a place in the Spurs team.

He then scored match-winning goals in successive games in February, but he has since returned to the bench.

Redknapp said this month that Kranjcar would be given a chance and that he did not want him to leave White Hart Lane.

Bremen are expected to launch another bid in the summer for the £12million-rated midfielder but Everton are also said to be interested.

Speaking after Croatia’s 0-0 draw with France, Kranjcar confirmed his desire to leave White Hart Lane.

“I will be trying to find a football club where I can play regularly, like any footballer would,” he said. “It depends who wants me, if anyone wants me.”

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Birmingham City And West Ham United Chase £5m Newcastle Midfielder

St James’ Park talisman could be on his way to St Andrews or Upton Park.

Birmingham City and West Ham United are set to battle for the signature of Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton this summer. The 28-year-old’s contract with the Magpies expires in 2012 and negotiations have broken down regarding an extension. Barton is back playing his best football following a controversial few years both on and off the pitch.

Both the player and his manager Alan Pardew say they want the contract to be signed but talks stalled as Barton is questioning the ambitions of the board. If the stalemate continues, the club will cash in on the England international rather let him leave for free in a year’s time. Hammers manager Avram Grant thinks Barton is the ideal replacement for Scott Parker, who may leave the club at the end of the season.

Similarly Birmingham boss Alex Mcleish wants Barton to come to St Andrews as Sebastian Larsson is out of contract in the summer. Bidding would start at £5million but any deal will hinge on the two clubs avoiding relegation.

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West Ham United to Lure £6m Newcastle United Midfielder to Upton Park

West Ham will attempt to lure Newcastle United’s Joey Barton to London in the summer, reports the Northern Echo. The controversial midfielder has just 15 months left on his current deal at St James Park and is yet to agree new terms with the Magpies. Having seen Andy carroll depart to Liverpool for £35m in January, Newcastle are desperate not to lose any more of their key players and are keen for Barton to commit his long-term future to the club. While Alan Pardew’s men are well-stocked for midfielders – with Kevin Nolan Cheik Tiote, Danny Guthrie, Dan Gosling and Stephen Ireland all vying for places – Barton has the guile that sets him apart from his rivals. West Ham are currently involved in a relegation scrap but their recent run of results that sees them unbeaten in four matches suggests they will be successful. Part of that is down to the return from injury of some influential players such as Thomas Hitzlsperger but also due to some canny manoeuvrings in the January transfer window that saw the impressive Demba Ba – who already has four goals in his five appearances to date – arrive from Hoffenheim and Gary O’Neil join from Middlesbrough.

SOURCE: Sportingo

Clearly any move to bring Joey Barton to Upton Park will only occur if Avram Grant keeps the East London side above the drop zone, which on current form is distinctly possible. The 28 year old Newcastle United man is apparently considering his options and has been linked with interest from a number of Premier League sides as well as from Bundesliga side Hamburg.

Barton has of course has his fair share of both off and on field problems but is in a good run of form this season and Alan Pardew won’t want to lose the England hopeful but it seems that as with other Magpies stars, there is some reticence to commit to the club until they some signs of re-investment of the Andy Carroll cash in the summer.

Avram Grant could well do with an injection of creativity to a midfield that has it’s fair share of battlers but perhaps lacks some flair and forward thinking, abilities that on his day Joey Barton has in bucket-loads. Currently West Ham have the likes of Scott Parker and Mark Noble doing the donkey work and moving the ball forwards but the addition of the former Man City man could help link midfield and attack.

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