Pearce set for more Barton talks
Stuart Pearce believes there are not many clubs as good as looking after their players as Manchester City – which is why he remains confident of securing long-term deals with Joey Barton and Sylvain Distin.
City boss Pearce is about to hold more talks with Barton, whose request for a transfer sparked outrage.
“We made an offer to Joey on Friday and I will have a one-to-one with him this week,” Pearce told mcfc.co.uk. “We are talking with Sylvain’s representatives and I’m optimistic that these boys want to stay here.
“It’s a good club, I think it’s important to realise that if you are on the playing staff there are not too many better than this.”
Lee Croft is also poised to sign a new deal as Pearce is delighted with the midfielder’s progress.
“We are a long way down the road with Lee’s contract,” said the City boss. “We hope to get that finalised very soon.
“He has come on in leaps and bounds since I took over as manager. Before then he was deemed a reserve-team player.
“Now he’s a first-teamer and it’s down to him, and how he does in the minutes he has on the pitch to push me in one direction or another.”
