Newcastle United are pushing for Joey Barton to accept a major pay-cut if he is to stay with the club.
United are understandably not happy with the situation, not so much on moral grounds which would be admirable, but more from the financial point of view.
It's an open secret that United owner Mike Ashley would like to cut back on the club's £60,000-a-week men - and there are plenty of them.
Barton is one, with United wanting to reduce his £65,000-a-week wages by half.
The word is that United have three choices with Barton - sell him, sack him or get the controversial midfielder to take a massive wage cut.
