City hang on to Barton after shock transfer request

Manchester City's Joey Barton (L) celebrates after scoring a goal against Birmingham at The City Of Manchester Stadium, in December 2005. Manchester City turned down a transfer deadline day bid for Joey Barton from Middlesbrough after the influential midfielder tabled a shock transfer request.

Manchester City turned down a transfer deadline day bid for Joey Barton from Middlesbrough after the influential midfielder tabled a shock transfer request.

Barton, 23, has been City's outstanding performer this season and the breakdown in negotiations on a new contract immediately alerted his numerous admirers, who include Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, as well as Boro boss Steve McClaren.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal are on the lookout for a player in the Barton mould after parting company with, respectively, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in recent months.

But City made it clear Barton was not for sale, despite admitting he was disappointed by the stance Barton had adopted given the player's past disciplinary problems, which the club has attempted to address through a programme of anger management counselling.

Barton was almost sacked last summer after stabbing a City youth team player in the eye with a lighted cigar during a tour of Thailand.

"I wouldn't have done what Joey did after the club stood by him in the summer," Pearce admitted on Tuesday. "But we hope to secure him on a long-term contract. I will talk to him and I think something will be sorted out."

The sudden and unexpected nature of Barton's transfer request inevitably fuelled speculation that another club had privately expressed interest in signing him.

But his agent, Willie McKay, denied that his client had been "tapped up."

McKay, who recently took over Barton's affairs, said the player had been upset by City "taking him for granted," because he had worked his way up through the ranks at the club.

"If Manchester City had come back with the offer we had asked for, which in my opinion is below what Joey should be getting anyway, then Joey would have signed the contract," said McKay. "I think he is a little bit upset."

Barton, an England under-21 international, is under contract until the end of next season.

City have offered him a new deal worth 28,750 pounds/week, twice his current salary. But the player reportedly believes he should be earning closer to 35,000 pounds/week.

Manchester City Manager Stuart Pearce stands at a press conference at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, in May 2005. Manchester City turned down a transfer deadline day bid for Joey Barton from Middlesbrough after the influential midfielder tabled a shock transfer request.

Pearce was adamant that the club would not increase its offer, setting the scene for a protracted stand-off that is bound to be distracting for all concerned as City pursue European football over what remains of the Premiership season.

Barton will be in the City squad for Wednesday's Premiership match against Newcastle, along with six-million-pound signing Georgios Samaras.

The Greece under-21 international completed his move from Dutch side Heerenveen last week, ending a stand-off in which he had gone on strike in an attempt to force through a transfer.

The 20-year-old wants to forget all the acrimony and concentrate on scoring goals for his new employers. "It has been a tough month for me but I was pleased that City were interested in me and now I'm really happy to be here," Samaras said.

"When I was in Holland I was thinking about my next step, because I want to make a career. I saw Manchester City in the table and I thought 'That's my next step'."

Pearce believes Samaras has the ingredients to succeed in England.

"He's 20 years old, we feel that we have someone at the right end of their career, someone who will mature and get better and better," Pearce said.

"Talking with him, he's a very level-headed lad, he knows what he wants out of football and he's very career-minded, which is a good thing."

City have also secured the services of Southampton central defender Matthew Mills, a 19-year-old England under-21 international, on a three-and-a-half-year deal.