Reports have it that Reds boss Gerard Houllier is lining up a £2.5M bid for the combative midfielder.

The 21-year-old's City contract runs until 2005 but he has fallen out with manager Kevin Keegan after stroming out of the ground following his omission from the Southampton squad.

Barton could link up with Steven Gerrard, who hails from the same Liverpool suburb of Huyton, but Houllier could be signing Barton to replace his current skipper, who has been linked with a £20M move to either Arsenal or Chelsea.