Controversial midfielder Joey Barton is as well known for his violent off-field exploits as he is for his on-pitch demeanour as a no-nonsense man-of-passion with a hard tackle.

His assault on team-mate Ousmane Dabo in 2007 led to an altercation with then-manager Stuart Pearce which effectively ended his career at Manchester City.

Little over a month later he joined Black and White striped side Newcastle United for a reported £8 million but has made no more than 30 appearances for the Magpies due to injury, a stretch in gaol, and an FA-enforced six game ban.

Sporting Chance

This has not perturbed Portsmouth boss Tony Adams, who is keen on the player after losing two influential midfielders (Sulley Muntari and Lassana Diarra) in the space of six months.

Sky Sports claim that Adams has been granted permission to spend some of the cash raised by the sales of Diarra to Real Madrid, and Jermain Defoe to Tottenham Hotspur, and the former Wycombe Wanderers boss is keen on Barton.

Adams is familiar with Barton after becoming acquainted with him during the player’s stint in Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic – a specialist rehabilitation centre for footballer’s suffering from addiction (Barton has confessed to alcoholism in the past).

British tabloid The People have also linked Barton with a move to Portsmouth, while earlier in the season The Daily Mirror believed Martin O’Neill was keen on taking the 26-year old to Villa Park.