Manchester United Boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is considering the prospect of signing Newcastle United rebel Joey Barton.

The Daily Mail says Barton's representatives are understood to have been in contact with Old Trafford coaching staff and discussed the possibility of bringing in the Newcastle midfielder as a squad player.

The fact Barton is free is a major factor in negotiations although the 29-year-old is keen to play regular football.

Other big clubs have also made contact with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City all watching developments. However, Barton wants to build on his performances last season and the amount of prospective game time he gets will play a major factor in his decision.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has defended the decision to leave out Cesc Fabregas from their squad for the friendly against Benfica.

Wenger insisted the latest decision not to involve his key man was down purely to the fact Fabregas was struggling to recover from a hamstring problem which also prevented him from travelling on the tour of Asia last month.

"He is just coming back from injury and is not ready to play in a game, but he is not injured," Wenger told a pre-match news conference in Lisbon, reported on arsenal.com.

"I do not want to speak about the transfer of Fabregas because I have done that three years now in every press conference so I don't think there is any more need to add something.

"I love Fabregas and I want him to stay, that is basically it.

"Everybody is free to think what they want. We cannot stop people raising questions."

Barcelona have already seen an initial £27million offer firmly rebuffed earlier in the summer, but remain determined to bring their former trainee back to the Nou Camp. Arsenal, though, are standing firm in their £40million valuation.

Fabregas is now unlikely to lead the team out at St James Park for the opening match of the Barclays Premier League season at Newcastle next weekend.

"I don't think Fabregas will be ready to start the season because he has been out for a long time and has had no games," Wenger said.