Transfer news: QPR midfielder Joey Barton attempts to force move to Everton - 'the club he loves'

Barton supported the club as a young boy and is said to be willing to take a significant pay cut in order to join the Toffees

The French Football Federation has given Marseille midfielder Joey Barton a two game suspended ban for insulting Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva on Twitter (AFP\Getty)

Joey Barton’s agent Willie McKay has been in touch with new Everton manager Roberto Martinez to try and force through a deal that would see the Queens Park Rangers midfielder move to Goodison Park.

Barton is currently on £70,000-a-week at Loftus Road, but he spent last season on-loan at Marseille and looks destined to leave the club he joined in 2011.

The French club were interested in signing the midfielder on a permanent deal, but they are only prepared to offer half of his current wages, and McKay is exploring other options which has led to him contacting the manager of the club Barton supported as a young boy.

Born in Huyton, Barton tweeted “Once a blue…” earlier this morning, and McKay admitted that he has approached Martinez about a potential move.

"Obviously his package with QPR is pretty big for Marseille's terms really," McKay told TalkSPORT.

"Joey said there was only one club he would make a sacrifice for and it would be Everton and I made that call to Martinez.

"That is the club he loves. I have approached them and said Joey would love to have Everton on his CV.

"Fair play to him he said he would lose money to go to Everton - and not many professionals would do that."

It has been said that Barton is prepared to take a significant wage cut in order to join the Toffees, and McKay also confirmed that Martinez is a fan of Barton along with his interest in signing a central midfielder.

"Roberto Martinez said he likes him as a player and he also spoke to (Martinez's assistant) Graeme Jones, who loves him as a player," McKay added.

"Anything can happen in football. It could happen."

Everton are currently in the United States where they take on Italian champions Juventus tonight in the opening game of the International Champions Cup, which also contains Chelsea, Real Madrid, Valencia, AC Milan, Inter Milan and LA Galaxy.