Newcastle linked with £10m move for Rivaldo

Newcastle United are reported to be attempting to bring the Brazilian international Rivaldo to Tyneside.

The club was saying nothing about the prospective move as it emerged in Spain yesterday that there has been contact with Barcelona over a potential £10m transfer. The Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and deputy Douglas Hall are currently on holiday in the city, fuelling the speculation.

The 30-year-old striker, who is due at St James' Park with his club on 7 August for a pre-season friendly, is out of contract next summer and reports in Spain suggest Barça could be ready to cash in.

An unnamed adviser to the player confirmed there had been contact between the two clubs, and although no offer has yet been made, there have been talks.

"Newcastle are interested in Rivaldo but no official offer has been received from Newcastle or any other club for the time being," the adviser said.

Gary Neville will miss the start of next season after discovering his broken metatarsal was not knitting properly and needed a pin inserted.

The Manchester United full-back, who missed the World Cup with the injury, has undergone surgery and is expected to be out for another three months – increasing speculation that Juventus' French international Lilian Thuram may be Manchester-bound. Neville has, at least for the present, withdrawn from ITV's World Cup panel.

United's French left-back Mikäel Silvestre has had his Old Trafford career plunged into doubt by a contract wrangle.

Silvestre, who went through the World Cup without making an appearance, says his agent is yet to reach agreement on new terms. United are holding back on committing to a long-term contract for Silvestre, whose performances have been erratic at Old Trafford.