Kieron Dyer had no sooner poured scorn on rumours that he would be imminently swapping Newcastle United for Manchester United than Freddy Shepherd and Douglas Hall reignited them.

Newcastle's chairman and owner were last night en route from Kuala Lumpur to Los Angeles in order to, in Shepherd's words, "tie up a major piece of business".

The pair are to be guests at United's game against the Mexican club America in Los Angeles tomorrow night.

Shepherd and Hall were in Kuala Lumpur to watch Newcastle take part with Chelsea, Birmingham and Malaysia in the Asia Cup and had intended to stay for the duration.

But they apparently checked out of the Palace of the Golden Horses, their luxury hotel, in a hurry to catch a flight to California via Tokyo yesterday morning.

Manchester United's chief executive Peter Kenyon yesterday insisted the move was a coincidence.

However, it transpired that Kenyon had spoken to Shepherd and that the Newcastle chairman was expected at the LA Coliseum.

"I'm aware that Freddy is coming to LA at the same time we are over there, but it is purely coincidental," said Kenyon. "He is coming on business but I'd like to make it clear it has nothing to do with us. While he is in LA he has asked to come to the game, but, again, it is just a coincidence. There is nothing more to it than that."

Kenyon though, had formerly denied that David Beckham was available for transfer up until his departure to Real Madrid. Dyer's agent Jonathan Barnett also seemed surprised that Shepherd had publicised his intentions and claimed to be unaware of how far the negotiations had gone.

"Newcastle are not telling me anything - I suppose they will eventually. All I know is that Freddy Shepherd has said Kieron is not for sale unless someone offers silly money. Kieron's contracted to Newcastle and is very happy at the club. But every club would like to sign a player of his ability."

Earlier this week, sources close to Newcastle's board had made it clear Dyer was for sale if a buyer was prepared to offer £25 million.

But any hopes they may have harboured of transferring the England midfielder to Chelsea, whose chairman Ken Bates was staying in the same hotel, were soon dashed.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann appears to on the brink of joining Arsenal after revealing only a medical should stop him joining the Gunners.

"If I pass the medical, I think I'll be transferred to Arsenal," said Lehmann.

The 33-year-old has been targeted as a replacement for David Seaman, who joined Manchester City on a free transfer earlier this summer.

Gianfranco Zola hit four goals on his Cagliari debut yesterday and then insisted he had no regrets about trading in a role in Roman Abramovich's Chelsea revolution and Champions League soccer for Italy's Serie B.

The 37-year-old bagged his haul in a 45-minute appearance for Cagliari as they beat Rap Valgusana 11-0 in a pre-season friendly.

It was a dream start to his career with the club he has supported since childhood and Zola said: "I am very happy to have showed a good performance and scored so many goals in my debut match.

"I could have stayed seven years more at Chelsea where I had an exceptional professional and personal experience and which I will remember fondly for the rest of my life.

"I turned down not only an important financial offer but a good offer. The Chelsea chairman understood my decision.

"I needed to try another adventure, I thought it was the time to live intensely another love in my own land."

David Beckham's first match with Real Madrid in Spain should come on August 17th away to Valencia. Real announced yesterday they had accepted an invitation to play against Valencia in their traditional Orange Trophy pre-season friendly at Mestalla.

Beckham will almost certainly make his Real debut on the club's current tour of the Far East. But the Valencia clash will be the first chance to see him in action in Spain since his move from Manchester United for a fee of up to €35 million.

Barcelona are to raise the price of season-tickets for the new season by between 20 and 40 per cent because of the club's financial situation. Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta said the club would raise an extra €8 million by the price increase.

Manchester City last night admitted it was "unlikely" that Alfie Haaland would continue playing after the Norwegian announced his retirement in a newspaper. However the club say that talks are on-going and they are seeking expert medical advice.

The 30-year-old utility player said he had admitted defeat in his battle to overcome a serious knee injury. Haaland claimed he had come to a cash agreement with City over the remaining two years of his contract.

Australian striker Harry Kewell is expected back in training next week after damaging ankle ligaments.

He was forced to miss Liverpool's tour of the Far East after picking up the injury at Crewe in a friendly last weekend.

And police in Cameroon have arrested two tricksters, who posed as soccer stars Lauren of Arsenal and Manchester United's Eric Djemba Djemba, seeking cash to fund a fake memorial service for the late Cameroon international Marc-Vivien Foe.