Nolan urges West Ham to sign former Newcastle team-mate
Published:Joey Barton may have started both of Newcastle’s Premier League games this season but the midfielder remains available on a free transfer.
Interest may have cooled from the Premier League sides but West Ham United are more than keen to take Joey Barton to Upton Park and they’re hoping Kevin Nolan can play a key role in that.
“I came here so can’t see why Joey wouldn’t,” said Nolan. “It’s a massive club. He’s probably looking for an escape.”
“He knows Sam and I are here and what we’re about. I’ll look after him, he’ll look after me.”
Nolan and Barton became strong friends during their time at Newcastle and Barton was the first to voice his displeasure among hearing his captain last season had been transferred to West Ham.
That was the start of Barton’s brutal attack on the Newcastle hierarchy this summer, an attack which led him to be placed on the transfer list.
While Barton and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew have made their peace, it’s clear that the midfielder is unhappy on Tyneside and while a move to West Ham would be a drop in class, it may appeal to Barton.
West Ham are the 11/4 favourites to win the Championship and have made a strong start to the Championship season, and under Sam Allardyce many think they will win promotion this season.
Barton may be worried about dropping down a division but he can be confident that West Ham have the capability to win promotion this season.
Newcastle have made a great start to the Premier League season, drawing with Arsenal and beating Sunderland but Pardew’s side are still one of those fancied to battle relegation.
Newcastle are 5/1 to be relegated alongside West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and while there are five clubs below Newcastle in the relegation betting, a couple of defeats and the Toon will attract support.
Barton has eight days to weigh up his options and he’s likely to receive a phone call from Nolan in the coming days, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Barton make the move south.
