Everton still hope to sign Manchester City’s Joey Barton – despite being told he is not for sale.
Barton has a clause in his contract allowing him to speak to any club that offers City £5.5m.
“This is Joey Barton’s clause, not Manchester City’s and it is a clause they were happy to put in,” Barton’s agent Willie McKay told BBC Sport:
“If a club offers £5.5m, it is Joey’s right to speak to that club if he wants to, or not if he doesn’t want to.”
Everton manager David Moyes hopes to fund a deal for Barton by selling Simon Davies to Fulham in a deal worth around £3m.
He confirmed his move for Barton but admitted: “Manchester City made it clear he was not for sale.”
