" Shepherd fuels Dyer talk"
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has flown to Los Angeles, United States, heightening speculation Kieron Dyer will be sold to Manchester United.
The Old Trafford club are on a pre-season tour in the US and are flying into Los Angeles for their fixture against Mexcian club side Club America on 28 July.
Shepherd had previously said that only a " ridiculous bid" would prise Kieron Dyer away from St James´ Park.
But the Daily Telegraph newspaper quotes a Newcastle source claiming Shepherd has gone to Los Angeles to do " a major piece of business".
Sir Alex Ferguson´s United recently lost out on long-term summer target Ronaldinho, who signed for Barcelona after rejecting overtures from the Old Trafford club.
I´m well aware that Freddy is coming to LA but it´s purely coincidental
Man Utd chief executive Peter Kenyon
Ferguson has been a long-term admirer of Dyer, 24, whose career has blossomed since his £6.5m transfer from Ipswich in 1999.
Dyer is now an established England international and seems to have shaken off the series of injury problems that dogged the early phase of his career.
However, the fee for the player could be a major stumbling block, with the Old Trafford club unlikely to want to part with more than £20m.
And United chief executive Peter Kenyon claims Shepherd´s appearance in Los Angeles at the same time as his team is coincidence.
" I´m well aware that Freddy is coming to LA but it´s purely coincidental," said Kenyon.
" He´s coming on business but I would like to make it clear that it´s nothing to do with us.
" While he is in Los Angeles he has asked to come to the game," he told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Big-spending Chelsea, who have already snapped up Damien Duff from Blackburn for £17m, are also rumoured to be in the hunt, although Blues chairman Ken Bates has denied any interest.