Sean Dyche confirms Burnley could sign free agent Joey Barton

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has confirmed that the club are in talks with Joey Barton over bringing the free agent to Turf Moor.

The 32-year-old midfielder left Queens Park Rangers this summer following their relegation from the Premier League, and former Clarets striker Willie Irvine urged the club to make a move for the midfielder earlier this week.

After a proposed move to West Ham United broke down it was reported that Nottingham Forest could be Barton's next destination, but it now appears that the controversial midfielder could be heading for their Championship rivals.

Speaking to reporters earlier today, Dyche said: "It is a possibility, that is what I would say. Joey is someone I have spoken to for eight weeks, and who I know a little bit about.

"He knows about us, he has always been very respectful of what we have tried to do here and what we have done here.

"The thing about Joey is that people sometimes forget because of other stuff that he is a very good player and he has a lot of people who probably hold him in high regard."

However, Dyche admitted that convincing him to join the relegated club would not be straightforward, as the player has a number of potential offers in the pipeline.

"There are a lot of other suitors, so it is not as simple as that," he continued. "We are not flippant enough with any situation to think that everyone just wants to come to Burnley because we ask them to."

Burnley, who have just one win from their first five games of the season, next face Bristol City away in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.