Bolton Wanderers have ended their interest in Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton after their £2 million bid for him was rejected by the Magpies.
Trotters boss Sam Megson said, “There is an amount we would go to and that’s it. We would not go any further.”
Bolton have been hit by a spate of recent injuries, and Megson was able to name only three substitutes in Saturday’s Premiership clash against Arsenal, which the Trotters lost 1-0.
Portsmouth were also reportedly interested in Barton, but Newcastle’s asking price of £6m + might see them go Bolton’s way too.
Megson has made only one major signing in the January transfer window. He has brought Sebastien Puygrenier on loan from Russian giants Zenit St.Petersburg.
Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood is reportedly a target for the Trotters, who have struggled to find the back of the net in recent games.
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