Only top four move would tempt Barton

Joey Barton has revealed only the lure of Champions League football could tempt him away from Newcastle this summer.

The 28-year-old is still coming to terms with not being offered a contract extension at St James' Park, as well as the impending departure of skipper Kevin Nolan for West Ham but he has repeatedly spoken of his determination to remain on Tyneside for the next 12 months.

"I don't want to leave the football club. My family is settled in the area, I love living in Newcastle," he told talkSPORT. "If someone came in, for instance, hypothetically and offered me Champions League football, then whether I had signed a five, six, seven-year deal at Newcastle, I'd have to consider it."

He added: "I've had a number of phone calls, bits of interest and people making enquiries, 'Would you go here? Would you do this? Would you do that?', because that's the nature of the game, that's the nature of the beast.

"I have got a great working relationship with everyone at the football club, and that's from playing staff to coaching staff to people who work in the training ground to catering staff, everyone. I love being at the club and I've got no ambition to leave.

"As far as I'm concerned, unless someone comes in and can offer me the opportunity to play at the next level, which is obviously the Champions League, then for me it's a no-brainer.

Very positive comments from Barton.
Barton is a winner and has a very strong personality which some people can construe as negative in terms of what he says about things that happen at Newcastle but for me, he's just echoing what he wants at the club and that's a team that can compete with the best.

Of course Barton could leave next season but then again, he could play a major part in next season with the players we sign and actually warrant a few years on his contract rather than leave for free.

It's not beyond the realms of possibilities that we can sneak into a Europa spot at the end of the season, although many will call me insane for suggesting it. But why not? Why can't we?

If Barton stays and plays out this season, assuming our new signings hit it off, then we can become more of a magnet for players, who want to be a part of it, because let's face it, no matter what people think or say, We are a big club and have one of the best stadiums for players to enjoy "hopefully" a bit of glory in.

have just been reading this, good job i checked before i posted it