COLE BID DENIED

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle claim The Magpies have made a £10 million bid for the Manchester United striker, although this would appear not to be the case.

Cole, who left St James' Park in 1995 in a £7 million deal which included Keith Gillespie going the other way, has seen his place in the champions' team come under threat from the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The England international has failed to start for United in their first two Premiership games as Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson goes for his preferred striking partnership of van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes and he has admitted that he could move if he is left with a substitute's role.

The player's agent Paul Stretford revealed to Planetfootball.com that he was unaware of any move from Newcastle for Cole.

"I know nothing about it," said Stretford.

And Kenyon claimed there has been no approach from any club for the England international.

"We have no formal approach for any of our players," he stated. "It is just speculation.

"We consider any offers on merit but this is speculation and there is nothing to talk about until any offers come in."

Newcastle are desperate to bring in another striker after injury-jinxed Carl Cort was sidelined for a further three months with a knee problem.

Cole, who was a massive success at St James' Park during his two years at the club, which included him winning the European Golden Boot in the 1993-1994 season, would fit the type of player Newcastle would like to take to the club, but money to finance the deal could be a problem.

The 29-year-old ace, who signed a new five-year contract in February, hinted in a recent interview that he could leave Old Trafford as anything can happen in football and he wants to be playing regularly to be in contention for England side for the World Cup, should they qualify.

"You never know in football," Cole told the club's official website. "Contracts are a piece of paper and if clubs decide they want to cash in on you, then that's their decision.

"You get to a certain stage in your career where you want to be playing week in week out and if you're not you find it difficult. "You do start to say to yourself, 'I want to be playing so I might have to consider my future.' You never know."

Bobby Robson did say at the weekend that he would not be interested in Robbie Fowler because he was happy with his striking options.