No move for Mbia but Barton deal is close

By

QPR are not currently discussing a move for Marseille’s Cameroon international Stephane Mbia.

The 26-year-old has been made available by the French club and an exchange deal involving Joey Barton was mooted.

Rangers are keen to offload Barton and Marseille initially suggested they would only take him on loan if the tough-tackling Mbia, who can play at centre-back or in midfield, moved in the opposite direction.

But talks over Barton have since progressed even though, as things stand, Mbia will not be heading to Loftus Road.

Rangers are looking at other defensive targets and believe they could yet sign Michael Dawson from Tottenham if he is still available closer to the transfer deadline.

Dawson has been told he can leave Spurs but appears reluctant to join the R’s and is thought to be hoping Sunderland come in for him.

Barton has long been one of a number of players QPR manager Mark Hughes intended to replace this summer.

His violent outburst at Manchester City on the final day of last season muddied the waters somewhat, and Hughes has described reports he wanted to loan Barton to a League club in order to quickly see out his 12-match ban as “completely false.”

Barton, who moved to west London from Newcastle a year ago, looks increasingly likely to complete his switch to Marseille in the next few days.

Hughes recently remarked that the deal “would make sense for him and certainly for us.”

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook