Mourinho prepared to join bidding for Dyer

The Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has surprisingly joined his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson in expressing an interest in signing Newcastle United's troubled England international Kieron Dyer.

The Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has surprisingly joined his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson in expressing an interest in signing Newcastle United's troubled England international Kieron Dyer.

Dyer has not played for six weeks because of a hamstring injury and has alienated many Newcastle fans because he refused to play on the right wing on the opening day of the season against Middlesbrough. But that has not perturbed Chelsea or Manchester United, who were also linked with a multimillion pound move for the talented, but controversial midfielder last summer. Both clubs are understood to have contacted the player's representatives.

The 25-year-old, who has just 18 months left on his contract, is likely to be available for just a snippet of the £25m they were quoted 18 months ago following his fall from grace with the club's supporters. Dyer was once regarded among the most exciting prospects in Britain and has, when fit, been a regular in Sven Goran Eriksson's England squads. But the former Ipswich prospect has struggled to fulfil his potential on Tyneside and has attracted criticism for his behaviour off the pitch.

Graeme Souness, who saw his side surrender a nine-match unbeaten run since he took over at Newcastle against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, has been told by the club's chairman, Freddie Shepherd, he will have to trim his squad when the transfer window reopens in January. But he could yet decide to keep hold of Dyer until the summer.

Neither Chelsea nor Manchester United have made a firm offer, but Newcastle would be keen on a swap deal. Souness has been linked with Chelsea's German centre-half Robert Huth, as well as the Red Devils' trio Wes Brown, Phil Neville and John O'Shea.