Barton may agree pay deal

Joey Barton may be about to strike a peace deal with Manchester City.

The 23-year-old midfielder stunned the club last week by handing in a transfer request.

It is understood he turned down an offer which – with win bonuses and appearance money – would have doubled his current £14,000 (€20,500)-per-week salary.

Barton has continued to play for City – he was in the side which lost to Everton on Saturday – and more talks with the club are believed to be in the pipeline this week.

The player’s agent Willie McKay has indicated a compromise could be reached.

“If City came back with the same figure as a basic salary I would advise him to sign it,” McKay told the Manchester Evening News.

Barton’s decision to ask for a transfer astonished many people, given that City stood by him during a turbulent time in his fledgling career.

He was sent home early from their tour of Thailand after allegedly lashing out at a 15-year-old Everton fan and then team-mate Richard Dunne when he intervened.

Previously he had been fined £60,000 (€88,000) by the club after poking former team-mate Jamie Tandy in the eye with a lit cigar during a Christmas party.