Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is keen on adding more steel to his ranks, after failing to in his attempt to bring Scott Parker to White Hart Lane.
He is expected to turn his attention to Newcastle's controversial star, with Aston Villa, Blackburn, Fulham and Stoke all monitoring the former Manchester City man's situation closely.
Pack your bag: Joey Barton has been offered a free transfer from Newcastle
Barton was kicked out of Newcastle United after owner Mike Ashley finally lost patience with the star midfielder's online rants against the club.
A day after Barton had used his Twitter account to launch a thinly veiled attack on the club and their hierarchy, Newcastle announced he had been told he can leave.
His virtual sacking followed an extraordinary day, after Ashley, managing director Derek Llambias and manager Alan Pardew decided to rip up the remaining year of his contract.
At lunchtime Barton, who on Sunday evening had hinted at unrest among Newcastle players following the 3-2 defeat at Leeds, announced via Twitter that he would be making a statement about his future at 4pm.
Final act: Barton is now unlikely to be seen in a Newcastle shirt again, despite recently wearing the armband
But Newcastle stole his thunder and put out a two-paragraph press release 23 minutes before his deadline, stating he had been placed on the transfer list and 'advised he can leave the club on a free transfer'.
Barton's 140,000-plus followers then had to wait almost an hour before he posted three tweets.
Had enough: Alan Pardew doesn't want Barton around the club
He said: 'Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata.'
Then: 'I am on a free but the honour of wearing those B+W stripes, surpasses that.'
Finally: 'One day the board might realise what the shirt signifies HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support.'
His agent Willie McKay claimed Barton would have been happy to take a pay cut and branded the decision to release him 'suicidal'.
McKay said: 'I was totally surprised when they never offered him a contract. I think it's a wee bit suicidal by Newcastle because how would you let your player of the year leave on a free transfer, approaching his prime.
'He had a great season and, for me, was pivotal for the club getting ?35million for Andy Carroll because he passed every ball to Carroll for every goal.
'Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley stood by Joey when he was under real pressure, so I'm not going to slag off Newcastle's board, but I think they have made a mistake. He was going to take a drop in wages to sign a new contract.
'A couple of top clubs have been in contact already. There won't be a problem finding Joey a home. I think he is capable of playing Champions League. He's a very good player.'
Sticking together: Barton defended Enrique (right) after the Spaniard criticised the club's transfer policy
The Liverpool-born midfielder, who joined Newcastle from Manchester City for ?5.8milliion four years ago, was on an? ?80,000-a-week contract.
WHEN PLAYERS FALL FOUL OF TWITTERJoey Barton has joined the list of players who got into trouble by airing their views on Twitter and he's unlikely to be the last.
England striker Darren Bent told his then chairman at Tottenham, Daniel Levy, to 'stop f***ing around' over his proposedtransfer to Sunderland.
Liverpool's Ryan Babel got in hot water for posting a mock-up picture of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt after a defeat.
Babel's Anfield team-mate Glen Johnson hit back at televised criticism fromPaul Merson by tweeting: 'comments from alcoholic drugabusers are not gonna upset me.'
England starlet Jack Wilshere had a reminder from the FA after tweeting: 'Inconsistent refereing needs to stop. Its killing the game', after his Arsenal sidethrew away a 4-0 lead at Newcastle in an epic 4-4 draw.
And Carlton Cole was charged over inappropriate jokes about Ghana fans at Wembley.
After the defeat at Elland Road, where he had expected to captain the side but did not, Barton indicated full support for Jose Enrique, who was fined last week by the club after he used his Twitter account to hit out at Newcastle's lack of ambition and summer transfer policy.
Enrique was expected to play at Leeds but failed to appear.
Barton said: 'If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place.'
He added: 'If it wouldn't affect team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose's comments would be the tip of the iceberg.
'And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club.'
Pardew, who is expected at Gateshead tonight for a? reserve-team run-out, could face a backlash from supporters upset by the sale of Kevin Nolan to West Ham and the failure to re-invest the Carroll cash on new players.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail