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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Everton set for fresh Barton bid | Everton set for fresh Barton bid |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Everton may still launch a bid to buy 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. | |
| The 24-year-old's agent Willie McKay told BBC Sport: "This is Joey Barton's clause, not Manchester City's and it is a clause they were happy to put in. | |
| "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 have targeted Barton to strengthen their midfield, and despite him saying he wanted to stay at City, boss David Moyes may hope that his lifelong allegiance to the club could tempt him to switch to Goodison Park. | |
| Moyes hopes to fund a deal for Barton by off-loading Simon Davies to Fulham in a deal worth around £3m. | |
| He confirmed his move for Barton but revealed: "Manchester City made it clear he was not for sale." | |
| Moyes, however, has yet to make a firm offer and if he follows up his inquiry with a bid that triggers the clause in his contract, City will be obliged to allow Barton to consider the deal. | |
| Everton will also watch Sheffield Wednesday's Madjid Bougherra in their FA Cup third round replay at City on Tuesday night. | |
| Fulham are understood to have offered just over £2m for Davies, who has struggled since his move to Everton from Spurs in May 2005. | Fulham are understood to have offered just over £2m for Davies, who has struggled since his move to Everton from Spurs in May 2005. |
| But Fulham boss Chris Coleman, a fellow Welshman, is still an admirer of Davies and is expected to pursue the deal, releasing cash that Everton can use to land Barton. | But Fulham boss Chris Coleman, a fellow Welshman, is still an admirer of Davies and is expected to pursue the deal, releasing cash that Everton can use to land Barton. |
| Ironically, Barton was fined £2,000 and warned as to his future conduct after baring his backside at Everton fans following the Premiership match at Goodison Park on 30 September. | Ironically, Barton was fined £2,000 and warned as to his future conduct after baring his backside at Everton fans following the Premiership match at Goodison Park on 30 September. |
| City star Barton, who is tipped for an England call-up after impressing coach Steve McClaren, has been linked with Newcastle United but their interest has cooled. | City star Barton, who is tipped for an England call-up after impressing coach Steve McClaren, has been linked with Newcastle United but their interest has cooled. |
| The player has also said recently he has no wish to leave City but Moyes wants to test that resolve in a bid to step up Everton's pursuit of a Uefa Cup place. | The player has also said recently he has no wish to leave City but Moyes wants to test that resolve in a bid to step up Everton's pursuit of a Uefa Cup place. |
| Everton currently lie seventh in the Premiership and Moyes has cash at his disposal from the £2.5m sale of Kevin Kilbane to Wigan earlier this season. | |
| Moyes is also an admirer of 24-year-old Owls defender Bougherra but it is unlikely he will be able to complete both deals if his move for Barton is successful. | Moyes is also an admirer of 24-year-old Owls defender Bougherra but it is unlikely he will be able to complete both deals if his move for Barton is successful. |
| Charlton have already had a £1.3m bid for Bougherra rejected. | Charlton have already had a £1.3m bid for Bougherra rejected. |