West Ham pull out of Joey Barton deal after fans protest

West Ham have withdrawn their interest in Joey Barton after their fans made clear their displeasure at any potential deal.

The club had been keen to bring in the midfielder after his release by QPR at the end of last season. A medical was expected to take place on Tuesday but West Ham have ended negotiations after protests from their supporters.

Slaven Bilic's side won 2-0 at Arsenal on Sunday, with particularly impressive performances from Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble and Reece Oxford at the base of midfield.

The emergence of the 16-year-old Oxford, combined with Barton’s controversial history, left many fans questioning why the club were pursuing the move.

Barton has also been linked with Aston Villa and revealed his desire to return to the Premier League during their 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday, where he was working as a pundit for the BBC.

“Judging by this game it won’t be long before I get a phone call from somebody,” he said. “The best player might be sitting in the stands this afternoon, even if I do say so myself.”

Guardian service