Barton tells Everton he'll take pay cut to join them after Marseille snub

Joey Barton's agent has approached Everton to underline the player's desire to join them.



Willie McKay contacted manager Roberto Martinez, currently on tour in America with his new squad, to tell him that Barton was keen to join the club he supported as a boy and would be willing to take a pay cut to make it happen.

The midfielder himself even tweeted 'once a blue...' on Wednesday morning to help try to push through the surprise move.

Mersey boy: Barton battles with Arsenal's Ramsey for the ball and wants to return to the Premier League

Barton, 30, is in limbo at Loftus Road after Marseille failed to find the funds to make his move to France permanent. He is on £70,000 a week and Marseille are willing to offer around half that.

However, McKay said: 'I spoke to Roberto to see if he would be interested in taking Joey. I told him that Joey would love to join Everton and that they are the only club he willing to lose money to play for.'



Shop window: Barton's agent has spoken to Everton boss Martinez about him joining the Merseyside club

Allez! Barton spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille where he faced David Beckham (below)

Barton played a major role in Marseille qualifying for the Champions League last season and was a player David Moyes considered bringing to Goodison Park.

Everton want a defensive midfielder and have considered Sevilla's Gary Medel and want Wigan's James McCarthy but both would come at a cost. The Huyton-born Barton impressed in last week's friendly against Leyton Orient and is set to start against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.