Newcastle Utd chief 'in UAE to find club buyer'

Newcastle United's vice president has reportedly flown to the UAE to hold talks over the possible sale of the club.

Tony Jimenez was dispatched over the weekend by owner Mike Ashley to set up meetings with potential investors in the region, according to a report on Monday in the UK's Northern Echo. The move comes a day after Ashley announced he was planning to sell the club.

But rumours that Dubai International Capital were involved in the talks were firmly scotched on Monday when it said it not involved in a renewed bids for any Premier League football clubs.

Officials said they were not in new talks over buying Liverpool or any other top English club.

"DIC can confirm that it is not involved in any negotiations to buy LFC and is not planning a fresh bid for LFC or any other football club," the UAE-based company said in an e-mailed statement to news wire Bloomberg on Monday.

Dubai International, which owns shares in HSBC Holdings Plc, Sony Corp and the European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co, has also been linked with a move to purchase Newcastle United, after its owner put the club up for sale on Sunday.