Olympique Marseille are ready to sign on-loan QPR midfielder Joey Barton permanently.

The Daily Express says QPR may backtrack on suggestions that Barton will return to Loftus Road, after Marseille indicated they would like to sign him permanently.

Rangers owner Tony Fernandes had claimed he would look to bring Barton back to West London to boost the club's chances of immediate promotion to the Premier League.

However, QPR need to cut their wage bill and high-earner Barton may be sacrificed as Marseille are prepared to take him on a permanent deal.