Dalglish mulls £5m move for Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton
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Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish mulls £5m move for Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton
Heading for Anfield? Barton is being eyed by Liverpool boss Dalglish
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is considering a £5million move for Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
Dalglish has long followed the 28-year-old's progress and, while he recognises such a move would be controversial, he believes Barton's ability merits serious consideration.
Dalglish wants to bring in around six signings this summer, with Blackburn's Phil Jones, Blackpool's Charlie Adam, Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Stewart Downing and Ipswich's Connor Wickham among his targets.
He is keen to return a strong British identity to the squad and sees room for Barton's feisty style.
The Liverpudlian has not always endeared himself to the Anfield faithful. He was sent off for a lunge at Xabi Alonso on his last visit and clashed with Fernando Torres during Newcastle's 3-1 home victory over Liverpool last December.
Singled out: Dalglish has a number of new recruits he would like to bring to Anfield in the summer
But Dalglish feels Barton could add an edge to his side and help bring the best out of £35m record signing Andy Carroll.
Barton, who will have 12 months left on his contract at St James' Park by the summer, set up eight goals for the England striker in his time at Newcastle.
Seeing red: Barton was sent off for a crunching tackle on Alonso in 2009