Portsmouth want Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton

Tony Adams is ready to send shockwaves through Portsmouth by bringing in Joey Barton to replace Lassana Diarra.

Adams sees the controversial 26-year-old Newcastle midfielder as the man to inject new life into his side after Diarra left for Real Madrid.

Pompey have also cashed in on Jermain Defoe's return move to Spurs. But it is the £22million from the Diarra sale that will give Adams money to play with, and Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear will be happy to business.

The Toon chief needs an influx of cash to fund his own team building plans.

But it remains to be seen whether Portsmouth's fans or players will be willing to accept reformed bad boy Barton at Fratton Park.

Newcastle were willing to accept offers of around just £2m for Barton last summer after his conviction for an assault on ex-Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo. Yet they failed to win a single game as he served a six-game FA ban for the attack earlier this season.

Barton scored a penalty in his second game back to lift United out of the relegation zone and was impressive before getting injured in the 2-2 draw with Wigan on November 15 - an injury that has kept him out ever since.

- Portsmouth have paved the way for the departure of David James in the summer by making an approach for Le Mans goalkeeper Yohann Pele.

The 26-year-old Frenchman, who was tracked by Tottenham last season, is out of contract at the end of the season.

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