Dubai 'rescue' of Newcastle Thrown Into Doubt

Reports last night that Newcastle are poised to be taken over by Dubai's Zabeel Investments have been dismissed as "highly unlikely" by an informed source in the United Arab Emirates.

Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, and his cohorts Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez have spent the past few days touring Dubai - where they have been spotted in assorted hotels and restaurants - and its neighboring emirate, Abu Dhabi, in an attempt to sell the club.

They apparently passed a document to representatives of Dubai's ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, offering the club for $860m, around £480m. With Sheik Mohammed intent on buying Liverpool, and the price around £230m more than Ashley has invested in the club, there was little initial interest. But last night it was reported that Zabeel and the Dubai Investment Group, companies owned by Sheik Mohammed, were considering making offers.

Although Ashley was said to be "in talks" with Zabeel last night, it is thought that this could be merely the latest move in an on-going game to persuade Liverpool's American owners to sell. Indeed, experts in the Gulf believe Ashley is far likelier to find a buyer in Qatar.

The sports retailer's claim that he is selling Newcastle because he fears he and his children will be assaulted by fans has not played well in the UAE and could prove a deterrent to purchasers. Northumbria police yesterday denied suggestions that they had warned Ashley to stay away from St James' Park last Saturday.

Although fans were outraged at Ashley's running of the club and the events which led to Kevin Keegan's resignation a fortnight ago, supporters' groups had stressed that all protests must be non-violent. Many fans have been insulted by the idea that Ashley or his children would be harmed if they visited the ground.Manchester City's England Under-21 midfielder, Michael Johnson, has signed a new five-year contract. Arsenal and Liverpool are among those believed to have been monitoring him. He had been ever-present this season until injury kept him out of last Saturday's defeat by Chelsea.