Newcastle United Transfer Rumors: Joey Barton Not Offered New Contract; Will Leave Next Summer
In a surprising turn of events, Newcastle United have declined to offer midfielder Joey Barton an extension to his contract, due to expire at the end of next season. As a result, the 28-year-old, widely regarded as one of the club's top performers in their first season back in the Premier League, will play out the 2011/12 season and then leave on a free transfer - at least, according to agent Willie McKay, who was speaking to Sky Sports:
I had a meeting with Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias and club secretary Lee Charnley and they have indicated Joey will not be offered a new contract. Joey will continue to be a Newcastle player next season and then he will leave on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
Joey would have loved to have extended his stay at Newcastle, but unfortunately it is not to be. Joey has loved his time at Newcastle and nothing will change his commitment for the club next season. Obviously we will be monitoring the situation next January to try and find a new club for Joey as he can speak to clubs from abroad in January.
I can’t really figure out why Barton’s not being extended. He played well enough to have some value in the transfer market despite his past and even if he’d done something awful that nobody outside the club knew about, they could still extend his deal and sell him, assuming the news wasn’t on the verge of breaking. This makes no sense for Newcastle, which seems to imply that any disagreement has to have come from the Barton camp, despite the spin McKay is putting on the talks.
Either way, it is quite an odd piece of news. Will we see Barton abroad come 2012/13? He may have run out of chances in England.
See More:
