The 28-year-old England international was withdrawn from the squad for last night's 4-1 friendly victory over Celtic as manager Sam Allardyce protected the club's asset.

However, it is understood Tottenham have joined West Ham in registering an interest in the player, while reports have suggested Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who knows the player well from his time as national team boss, is ready to make his move.

Newcastle were insisting earlier today that no bid has yet been received, but as they monitor a difficult situation, it seems Dyer could have played his last game for the club as an eight-year stay draws to a close.

The Hammers, who earlier this summer paid Liverpool $19million for the midfielder's close friend Craig Bellamy, emerged as potential purchasers last week, while Tottenham's interest in him is long-standing.

Both clubs would meet the criterion of being closer to Dyer's family home in Ipswich, the motivation for a move away from St James' Park.

That, however, could not be said of City, and there would be raised eyebrows on Tyneside if that came about.

Dyer's valuation could yet prove a stumbling block with his well-documented fitness and health problems a consideration.

However, at his best, he is an international-class player and the Magpies will not be keen to let him leave for a knock-down price - they paid Ipswich $15million for his services during the summer of 1999 - especially in the current climate of hugely-inflated transfer fees.

That said, getting his weekly wage packet of in excess of $200,000 off the books would free up extra cash.

Should Dyer leave the club, that would leave Allardyce needing to find a suitable replacement, and with Nicky Butt having picked up an injury in last night's game and Emre and Damien Duff still on the sidelines, that would inject fresh urgency into his search for further signings.

Allardyce's focus has been on his back four in recent days, although he is yet to make the breakthrough.

He is chasing a series of targets with proven quality and experience the main requirements, and for that reason, is not in the market for want-away West Brom star Curtis Davies.

Steven Taylor earned his manager's wrath for needlessly aggravating an ankle injury last night, although the damage is not thought to be too serious.

However, while Allardyce has high hopes for the 21-year-old, he wants to surround him with old heads.

He said: "I am looking for experienced defenders. I have Steven Taylor, who is a very, very young and very, very good prospect, and I would put Curtis Davies alongside Steven Taylor.

"They are both in their early 20s and in the Premiership, that would be the wrong thing to do.

"Somebody with more experience needs to be brought in as well as David Rozehnal, who has been pretty impressive in the time he has been here.

"Peter Ramage did a terrific job in the first half with Paul Huntington gaining more experience.

"I have got Huntington, Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage - I don't need the inexperience of Curtis Davies, as good a player as he is.

"He is definitely a Premiership player, but I need more experience in there in those positions to achieve the clean sheets we would be looking for in the Premiership."