Manchester City have rejected Joey Barton's shock transfer request.
City opened contract talks with the 23-year-old midfielder only last week and manager Stuart Pearce has clearly not given up hope of persuading him to stay at Eastlands.
A statement on the club's website read: "The manager has publicly stated his desire to keep the player at Manchester City Football Club.
"A second round of negotiations between the club and the player's representatives took place today and Manchester City wishes to continue those talks."
It is understood that Barton has been offered a new contract worth double his current deal but turned it down and handed in his transfer request.
Barton's agent Willie McKay claimed tonight that he had not been made aware of the developments.
Pearce stood by Barton in July of last year when he was sent home from a pre-season tour of Thailand in disgrace after being involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City's team hotel in Bangkok.
Barton was given another chance and responded with some impressive displays this season which led some to suggest that he might be handed an England call-up.
Barton has attracted interest from several Premiership clubs, including Birmingham, Charlton and Middlesbrough, and it remains to be seen if a move away from Eastlands unfolds before the January transfer window closes at midnight tomorrow.
The Thailand incident was not the first controversial moment in Barton's career.
In December 2004 he stabbed a lit cigar into the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during club's Christmas party and was fined six weeks' wages by City.
After the Thailand incident Barton stressed that he was determined to "make things up" to Pearce.
Barton's form suggested he was determined to make the most of City's backing and last month he played on despite learning that his brother Michael had been found guilty of the racist killing of Anthony Walker and must serve 18 years in prison.
