Queens Park Rangers' Joey Barton to take pay cut to join Everton?

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton is prepared to take a substantial pay cut to join Everton, according to a report.

The 30-year-old spent last season away from Loftus Road on loan at French side Marseille, missing the club's relegation to the Championship.

Barton, wants to ply his trade in the Premier League for the Toffees, his boyhood club, and is willing to to take a 50% reduction in his £70,000-a-week wages after making contact with manager Roberto Martinez, reports The Mirror.

The midfielder could be in contention to play his first match for Rangers in over a year in their Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.