Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Fan power at West Ham United appears to have dented Joey Barton’s chances of a move to Upton Park after the East End club reacted to public concerns over his arrival as a free transfer.

A recent Chronicle poll resulted in 72% of Newcastle fans stating they WOULD take Barton back if there was a chance of him returning to St James’ Park.

However so much has changed since Barton left Newcastle, and there are some sections of fans who will agree with the clubs policy of bringing in younger players like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Gini Wijnaldum.

But there are arguments for and against a move for Barton.

You can’t put a price on experience

Barton may have had his ups and downs at Newcastle on and off the field. But at 32 he would return as one of the Premier League’s elder statesmen and have plenty of experience of dealing with younger players.

The midfielder has already started studying for his coaching badges and seems a much calmer character since he exploded for QPR on the final day of the 2012 season.

True, he has had three red cards since then but that is perhaps down to the nature of the beast - and given he is a target of opposing players who revel in winding him up, who wouldn’t spill over now and again?

Hold on though, that can also work the other way.

In games like the 4-4 draw against Arsenal it was Barton’s refusal to throw in the towel that hauled the team back into the team.

He was also player of the season in 2011.

And he would be coming to a club that now has two of his mentors on board in the backroom team in Steve Black, who worked with him on the psychology side at QPR, and Steve McClaren, who handed him his only England cap; they know what makes Barton tick - and what rubs him up the wrong way.

Speaking on Black, Barton said: “If I’d have met Steve when I was 21, I’d have been England captain”.

Barton still has plenty to offer as a player too.

He’s still fit and while there has been a lot of interest in him from Football League clubs, nobody can blame him for holding out for a top-flight club.

Could the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Papiss Cisse benefit from his crosses and ability from set-plays?

If he did come to Newcastle he would only be a squad player, but certainly somebody who could contribute.

Last season the Magpies lacked experience badly. When they were in winning positions there was nobody to take the sting out of the game.

There was very little game management on the pitch (Stoke City at home for example when 1-0 up or Man United late on at 0-0 when the Magpies let the water in).

Barton’s wages would not be so high this time around either while there is no transfer fee involved so financially it would be a less complicated deal to do.

Then there is the flip side on why the Scouser wouldn’t get a move back to Newcastle.

Barton has upset the hierarchy since leaving the club with some stinging criticism of the club’s policy.

It would require some serious talks with management and possibly Mike Ashley for him to return to the club and a lengthy reintegration process, probably on a similar level to Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England cricket fold in 2012.

All of it would need to be thrashed out.

Barton also does not fit into the club’s blueprint of signing players under 26.

However, the recent contract handed to Fabricio Coloccini suggests there could be some room for manoeuvre.

Another big factor is that Newcastle are already well stocked on midfielders.

Jack Colback and Vurnon Anita seem to be the first choice as far as holding midfielders are concerned.

Gini Wijnaldum, Siem de Jong, Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Rolando Aarons, Yoan Gouffran, Mehdi Abeid and Gael Bigirimana are also on board.

And with Newcastle fans clamouring for another centre-back and centre-forward, it’s difficult to see another engine room player being signed this summer.