Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has revealed that manager Graeme Souness has travelled to Turkey to meet Inter Milan midfielder Belozoglu Emre.

Shepherd admitted Souness has held "exploratory talks" with the 24-year-old Turkish international, but declined to elaborate.

Emre has just returned from a week's holiday and his agent, Ahmet Bulut, told the Press Association he will decide on where his future lies by Friday.

"He is back from holiday today and you will know by tomorrow which team he will be playing for next season," he said.

Meanwhile, the Magpies chief has dismissed claims from Portuguese international defender Jorge Andrade that he is a target for Souness.

The 27-year-old Deportivo la Coruna defender reportedly claimed to have been the subject of an inquiry from St James' Park, but Shepherd has moved quickly to end the speculation.

"These reports are completely incorrect," he told the club's official website. "We have not expressed any interest in the player, so the stories that appeared on Thursday are ridiculous and can dismissed immediately."

Shepherd's comments came after Andrade claimed there had been an approach from Newcastle, but that Manchester United was his preferred destination.