Joey Barton
Newcastle United's Barton smiles with Manchester United's Rooney during their English Premier League soccer match at St James' Park in Newcastle. REUTERS

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has played down speculation linking him with Manchester United and reiterated his desire to remain at St. James' Park next season.

Reports in the Sunday Times suggested Sir Alex Ferguson was interested in signing the troubled midfielder as he looks to find a replacement for Paul Scholes.

But Barton took to Twitter last night to quell conjecture and re-confirm his commitment to Newcastle.

"Nice to be linked with some big clubs today but I honestly don't want to leave Newcastle. Thanks but no thanks. #unfinishedbusinesshere" [sic]

"I will most likely leave Newcastle at end of season, when my contract expires and I am no longer employed. Its out of my hands #iwanttostay?" [sic]

Closed for business

Despite being linked with Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, Roma's Daniele De Rossi and Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas over the weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated there won't be any further arrivals at Old Trafford this summer.

Talking to ESPN Soccer, Ferguson comfirmed United are "not currently in the market" for any additional players and he is confident the current squad is strong enough to challenge for domestic and European honours this season.

"We are always looking for good quality players," said Ferguson. "We started the season with the players we have and I am satisfied with that. We are not looking at the moment but we are looking at combinations of central midfielders now at the club."

Meanwhile, Ferguson has added voice to the on-going Carlos Tevez transfer saga. Ferguson told reporters he failed to sign Tevez on a permanent basis in 2009 because the 27-year-old Argentine indicated he planned to retire in 2013.

"I think it's a certainty he will start the season at City," Ferguson said.

"You look around and wonder who is going to buy him. I'm not sure Inter Milan would pay £45m, especially after he said he wants to go back to Argentina to see his kids.

"He told us at the time of our negotiations that he was only going to play for four more years so, if we had signed him on a five-year contract knowing that he was going to quit in four years, there is no resale value for us."