City still hopeful of keeping Barton

Manchester City remain hopeful they can persuade Joey Barton to sign a new contract after wrapping up the £6m (€8.8m) signing of Georgios Samaras from Heerenveen.

Barton handed in a transfer request after rejecting a deal understood to be worth double his current package.

But manager Stuart Pearce is determined to persuade him to stay at Eastlands.

A statement on the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk, read: “The manager has publicly stated his desire to keep the player at Manchester City Football Club.

“A second round of negotiations between the club and the player’s representatives took place and Manchester City wishes to continue those talks.”

Pearce stood by 23-year-old Barton in July of last year when he was sent home from a pre-season tour of Thailand in disgrace after being involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City’s team hotel in Bangkok.

Barton was given another chance and responded with some impressive displays this season which led some to suggest that he might be handed an England call-up.

Barton has attracted interest from several Premiership clubs – thought to include Arsenal, Birmingham, Charlton and Middlesbrough – and it remains to be seen if a move away from Eastlands unfolds before the January transfer window closes at midnight tonight.

The Thailand incident was not the first controversial moment in Barton’s career.

In December 2004 he stabbed a lit cigar into the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during the club’s Christmas party and was fined six weeks’ wages by City.

After the Thailand incident Barton stressed he was determined to “make things up” to Pearce.

Barton’s form suggested he was keen to make the most of City’s backing and last month he played on despite learning that his brother Michael had been found guilty of the racist killing of Anthony Walker and must serve 18 years in prison.

Meanwhile, City have clinched a deal for Samaras and the 20-year-old Greek striker will make his City debut in Wednesday’s home Premiership clash with Newcastle providing his international clearance comes through in time.

City, who had previously offered only £3m (€4.5m) for Samaras, agreed a £6m fee with Heerenveen on Saturday night.

Samaras has since passed a medical and agreed personal terms and is believed to have signed a four-and-a-half year deal.

He will be introduced to the media at a press conference at City’s Carrington training ground later this morning.