Barton: Unlikely to join Marseille in swap deal

The French outfit want to sell the versatile Cameroonian defender and initial talks with QPR regarded a potential €6million (£4.71million) transfer.

But reports claim the London side proposed a swap deal with out of favour Barton, being keen to pay half of his wages.

However Marseille supremo Labrune has ruled out such a move.

He told L'Equipe: "We are not attracted in a paying loan for Stephane, with an option to buy. So today there is no more talk.

"We are not refusing a departure, but under such conditions we have to look elsewhere."

Barton is banned for the first 12 games of the season and has not been given a squad number by boss Mark Hughes.