“We expect Joey Barton to sign for Rangers”

Sky Bet have today suspended betting on Rangers signing high-profile target Joey Barton citing that it is ‘expected to happen’.

The bookie clearly has reason to believe that Barton has agreed to travel north of the border to Ibrox, so much so that they have suspended the market along with the qualifier that it is now, in their opinion, a matter of time before the 33-year old midfielder is announced by Mark Warburton’s men.

They said:

“This (bets on Barton joining) is not a market that we will be offering unfortunately Mark as Joey Barton is widely expected to sign for Rangers.”

Naturally just suspending the market itself alone does not always mean the event is inevitable, but the qualifier does suggest they know something the rest of us do not.

Whether it takes place, coupled with Barton’s seemingly very deliberate #WATP tweet last night, remains to be seen, but it would be a much-needed fillip after the weekend Rangers fans have had.