Kieron Dyer has been omitted from Newcastle United’s squad for their match away to Bolton Wanderers today and the England international is likely to complete his controversial transfer to West Ham United. Relations between the clubs soured last week when the deal collapsed, but Dyer and Nolberto Solano, his teammate, are both expected to leave Tyneside.

Both players have requested a move for personal reasons. In the case of Solano — a popular figure among Newcastle supporters — the development is surprising, but the Peruvian is undergoing difficulties with his family and is said to favour a move to London or Spain. Dyer’s children live in Ipswich. It is not beyond possibility that the pair may renew acquaintances at Upton Park.

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, raised his club’s asking price for Dyer from £6 million to £8 million in protest at West Ham’s alleged conduct over the matter and that appeared to block the deal, but a compromise beckons. A similar amount for both players — Solano is 33 this year and about to enter the final year of his contract — would equate to decent business.

Sam Allardyce has backed Ashley’s stance, but he has no use for unsettled players and neither is expected to figure at the Reebok Stadium. As far as Dyer is concerned, after the disappointment of seeing his proposed transfer collapse, as well as being a target of abuse by Newcastle supporters, the manager does not consider him in the necessary frame of mind to play.

With Albert Luque expected to leave for Levante, there may be a number of departures in the coming days and, as things stand, replacements are a distant prospect. “There are no new faces,” Allardyce said. “This week has ended up with a little frustration at the fact that a couple of big targets have not come off and at this stage look like they won’t.”

With Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Shay Given injured and Scott Parker, the erstwhile skipper, having decamped to West Ham, Allardyce will name Gérémi, his signing from Chelsea, as captain for the Bolton fixture. He is expected to field a 4-3-3 formation, fitness permitting, with Alan Smith selected in midfield and Obafemi Martins and James Milner operating wide of Mark Viduka in attack.

Middlesbrough and Sunderland are vying for Mido’s signature, with the Egypt international agreeing personal terms and completing the first half of his medical on Teesside yesterday. Sunderland were reported to have improved on their original £6 million offer to Tottenham Hotspur last night in an attempt to swing the deal back in their favour. Dean Whitehead, the Sunderland captain, has agreed a contract extension that should keep him on Wearside until 2012.