Joey Barton fumes over proposed sale of Kevin Nolan and hints that he, Jose Enrique & Jonas Gutierrez will soon leave Newcastle

Joey Barton, Newcastle United (Getty Images)

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Joey Barton has responded to the expected sale of Kevin Nolan to West Ham United by saying he will leave Newcastle United alongside Jonas Gutierrez and Jose Enrique.

Within minutes of news filtering through that captain Nolan was having a medical at Upton Park, Barton tweeted: “Just on my way to Ascot, feel sick. #whatgoinonatthetoonffs.”

Moments later, he added: “Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life. Devastated to see him SOLD! #mejoseandjonasnext.”

Barton was told he had no future at the club when Alan Shearer was caretaker manager, but he found a resurgence in form under Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew and has been linked with a move elsewhere.

The former Manchester City midfielder has threatened to leave the club and has been told he will not be offered a new contract despite having just one year left on his current deal.

But his latest outburst will worry fans who have seen Andy Carroll sold to Liverpool and now have to watch their other star player, Nolan, drop down to the Championship instead of staying at St James’ Park.

Pardew has repeatedly insisted that he has money to spend from the Carroll transfer and has targeted new signings to push Newcastle up from their 12th placed finish this season.

The other two players mentioned by Barton in his tweet, Enrique and Gutierrez, have also been linked with moves away from the club.

Enrique has been reported to be a target for Liverpool and in the past few days Pardew has said the club have offered him an lucrative long-term deal, but the player does not appear willing to sign.

Argentine international Gutierrez had expressed a desire earlier this year to one day play in Italy and has called for the club to splash the cash to improve the squad this summer.