What Is The Latest Shearer Situation?

A senior source at the club said contact last week that the situation was "ongoing", but Shearer is increasingly downcast by the delay and knows that it is costing him in terms of recruitment.

Shearer’s meeting with former chairman Freddie Shepherd last week was a further indication that he now sees his best chance of taking over as residing with new owners.

Shearer has already lost out on at least two signings who had stated their interest in moving to United.

Jermaine Beckford of Leeds – favours a move to St James’s Park because he wants to learn from the best English striker of his generation.