Newcastle are still attempting to push through their move for Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton as discussions continue over the financial package.

The Magpies are understood to have offered more than half of the £5.5million required to trigger his release from Eastlands up front with the balance to come later this month.

However, with West Ham also on the 24-year-old's trail, City are holding out for the full amount.

Ironically, the Hammers' move for Newcastle skipper Scott Parker could play a major role in his club's pursuit of Barton.

The 26-year-old England international in understood to be in the capital to undergo a medical after the two clubs agreed a fee which would represent a profit on the £6.5million the Magpies paid Chelsea for his services two summers ago.

A successful conclusion to that deal would enable Sam Allardyce to push home his interest in Barton, whose days at City were effectively ended by his training ground bust-up with team-mate Ousmane Dabo.

The Huyton-born midfielder, who has also been a target for Middlesbrough, is keen on a move to St James' Park, although the Hammers' interest has not been dismissed out of hand and talks cannot begin until the financial issues have been resolved.

Having missed out on Reading's Steve Sidwell - who seemed destined for Tyneside before Glenn Roeder's resignation but ended up at Chelsea instead - Allardyce will be desperate to tie up the deal quickly to land a man he placed high on his list of targets after arriving at St James'.

Barton's past is famously controversial, and although the midfielder believes he has been demonised in certain quarters, the new Magpies boss's track record for bringing the best out of his players is well documented.

Former Newcastle full-back Warren Barton is confident Allardyce could harness his namesake and help him to fulfil his promise should he make the move across the Pennines.

He said: "I watched Joey a lot last season and I have to say, he was one of the best players in that position during the campaign.

"If Newcastle can get him for that fee it would be a snip - he is a quality player.

"Big Sam has already helped straighten out players like (Nicolas) Anelka and (El-Hadji) Diouf, so why can't he do the same with Joey?

"He can work with any player - he helped Gary Speed extend his Premiership career to 37 and counting, and he knows how to deal with different types of players."

Allardyce was in Cardiff at the weekend to run the rule over another potential target, Czech Republic international defender David Rozehnal, while Boro striker Mark Viduka and Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim remain in his sights.

The 31-year-old Australian is yet to give the Teessiders an answer over their offer of an extended deal at the Riverside Stadium, while Ben Haim, who is also out of contract, is not certain to remain at the Reebok Stadium despite Sammy Lee's determination to hang on to him.

Meanwhile, Titus Bramble will resume his career at Wigan after being released by Newcastle.

The 25-year-old has signed a three-year deal after spending five seasons a St James'.

In addition, striker Antoine Sibierski, who has rejected a one-year offer, is being courted by both the Latics and Bolton.

The 32-year-old Frenchman's family still live in the north-west and he was unwilling to move them to Tyneside unless he had a guaranteed two years.