Barton set for West Ham move

Posted Tuesday, August 11, 2015 by Foxsports.com

West Ham United are close to signing free agent Joey Barton, with the former Queens Park Rangers captain reportedly undergoing a medical at the Hammers on Monday.

Barton, who was released following QPR's relegation, has been working as a pundit and training by himself during the off-season.

He had been linked with moves to Ligue 1 with Loreint, while his former club Marseille has also expressed interest.

After he jokingly stated he was the best player at the ground while working as a commentator during the game between Aston Villa and Bournemouth this weekend, the 32-year-old reveled he had agreed terms with a Premier League side.

Often controversial at his former clubs, Barton is a vastly experienced midfielder that will add steel to a West Ham midfield that's short on numbers following the club's failure to acquire Alex Song, who impressed on loan at Upton Park last season.

Reece Oxford impressed in the holding midfield role this weekend but at the tender age of 16, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic cannot rely on the youngster throughout the whole campaign.

The signing of the much-maligned midfielder could be a masterstroke for Bilic, who's known for deploying a tenacious midfielder in is high-pressing, tactical style of play.