SoccerRound-upJuan Sebastian Veron is considering a second invitation to join Chelsea and is beginning to lean towards a move to Stamford Bridge. Having turned down their initial approach, Veron has indicated he will entertain the idea after it was made clear to him Manchester United no longer want him.
Although Alex Ferguson indicated yesterday Veron is still "a valuable squad member", the United manager is aware his chief executive, Peter Kenyon, is trying to resurrect a £15 million deal with Chelsea that had appeared to collapse last week.
Failing that, intermediaries have also been circulating Veron's name to prospective buyers in Spain and Italy. Barcelona had regarded him as a back-up option if their bid for Ronaldinho failed, while Juventus are among the clubs who have declared an interest.
Although Chelsea would not be Veron's first choice of club, he is thinking about the move seriously enough for his agent, Fernando Hildago, to schedule a flight to London this week. If Veron can be convinced, he will follow Geremi, Glen Johnson, Damien Duff and Wayne Bridge as Chelsea's fifth signing since Roman Abramovich took over, and would take Chelsea's spending to some £52 million.
The player's representatives have been led to believe United are willing to sell Veron for roughly half the £28 million they paid Lazio two years ago because they want money for a major new signing, something that will fuel speculation linking the club with Kieron Dyer.
So unequivocal were Newcastle's denials last night, however, the only thing that should disconcert the club's fans is that senior officials at Old Trafford said the same things about Beckham in the days before he was sold to Real Madrid.
What neither Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, nor the club's owner, Douglas Hall, could offer was a reasonable explanation as to why they should break off from the team's pre-season trip to Kuala Lumpur to fly into the city where Manchester United are staying, citing a "major business dealing".
Fuelling the speculation even further, Shepherd and Hall were to be guests of Kenyon for United's match against the Mexican club America at the LA Coliseum in the early hours of this morning.
It is inconceivable the subject of Dyer was not brought up, but the Newcastle delegation were at pains to echo Kenyon's claim that their coming together was merely a coincidence.
"We're just here to see the game because we're good friends with Peter Kenyon and Manchester United," said Shepherd. "There's absolutely no chance that Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy or anyone is for sale - no way. We aren't here to do any business with Manchester United because our players are not for sale."
Veron, meanwhile, seems determined to use this trip to underline why he feels hard done by. Last Friday he earned applause from his team-mates for a breathtaking goal in training, controlling an cross from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on his chest and, despite the close proximity of defenders, firing the dropping ball towards goal - from behind his standing leg. From 20 yards out, the ball flew into the top corner of Ricardo's net.
Raul's agent, Gines Carvajal, has rubbished stories linking the Real Madrid captain to United. "Raul's been what?". He added: "Raul has not been offered to anyone, including Manchester United. Raul isn't going anywhere."
Kenyon, meanwhile, has confirmed United are on the brink of confirming the Scottish Premier League team Livingston as their latest feeder club.
Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs will open a memorial garden for the British victims of the World Trade Centre attack in New York on Wednesday.
Emile Heskey and Milan Baros both struck twice as Liverpool wrapped up their Far East tour with a 6-0 win over a Hong Kong Select XI yesterday. New recruit Anthony Le Tallec and Vladimir Smicer were also also on target.
