Stoke City battle with Russian outfit over Barton signature
Stoke City are rumoured be one half of a ‘two horse race’ t sign Newcastle renegade, Joey Barton, after the midfielder was transfer listed for free.
A host of Premier League clubs were understood to be chasing Barton, however it looks as if the competition has been whittled down, with Stoke ready to break their wage policy for the midfielder’s signature and Zenit St. Petersburg prepared to offer him a very lucrative offer.
After being made to train on his own last week, the 28 year-old is now back training with the seniors and could feature as a part of Newcastle’s line-up to face Arsenal.
Both teams would be able to offer Barton European football, with Stoke making it into the Europa League and Zenit playing in the Champions League after winning the Russian Premier League last season.
The former Manchester City star has used Twitter yet again to communicate to the media that he could be staying at Newcastle this season, but Tony Pulis is working hard to make sure that isn’t the case.
