Barton will begin a 12-match ban this weekend following his sending off and subsequent actions on the final day of last season against Manchester City.
Ian Holloway: "I haven't got a clue where the Joey Barton rumours came from.
"I can't sign someone who I couldn't pick for 12 matches.
"If you look at the central midfield players I have, that's not the area I need players.
"I need strikers. Joey's a great lad but I don't know where that talk came from."