Pardew: Barton not for sale
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has dismissed speculation linking midfielder Joey Barton with a move away from the club.
There have been suggestions the 28-year-old could be a January target for the likes of Barclays Premier League rivals West Ham and Aston Villa, with some reports suggesting he could be available for as little as £1.5m.
However, Pardew, who earlier this week warned Tottenham not to bother making a bid for striker Andy Carroll, insisted that Barton is not for sale.
He said: “We don’t want to do any business.
“Part of my first week or so here has been spent trying to analyse what is the situation with the players we have and to try to secure their positions before we start looking elsewhere.
“That’s been my main focus, rather than looking at other players who could raise the level here.”
Pardew also revealed he is due to meet out-of-contract defender Steven Taylor’s agent in a bid to thrash out a new deal.
The 24-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season, but the new manager is keen to retain his services and Taylor has been happy with what he had heard so far.
He told the Journal: “I have been very impressed with the new manager. Since he came in, he has been absolutely spot-on.
“Within a day or two of him coming in, he sat down in his office and made it clear he wants me to be here.
“He just wants to get the ball rolling.”
