THE Singapore-based group looking to buy Newcastle United have made formal contact with the investment bank charged with selling the club.

Despite an insistence from managing director Derek Llambias on Tuesday night that there had been no previous discussions, the Profitable Group have registered their interest with Seymour Pierce.

Keith Harris, the chairman of Seymour Pierce, has been talking with “three or four” other parties with an interest in taking over at St James’ Park.

And, while their identities are unknown, there are suggestions that one has an American background, another is from South Africa and a third is from the Middle East.

Harris, handed the role of trying to find a buyer for Mike Ashley, insisted at the start of the week that not all of those to have been in touch are from abroad.

But given the way that Profitable’s identity has been made public they are being perceived as the early frontrunners to purchase Ashley’s controlling stake for £100m.

In reality, however, a deal is far from being struck and there is still every chance that it could be a group that has not even been mentioned yet who buys the club.

There has been no official comment from Profitable and their chief executive officer John Gaunt was quoted yesterday as saying: “We are aware of the reports but we have no comment at the moment.”

But privately they are insisting they are serious candidates, with former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon driving the bid from his position as commercial director.

The possibility of former chairman Freddy Shepherd emerging with an offer can also not be discounted after further claims that he has already chatted with Alan Shearer.

Shearer’s position remains unclear, with no managerial appointment likely until after the sale of the club has been concluded.

Shepherd is said to have been asked to become the figurehead of another unnamed, foreign consortium, with claims that he went to London for talks with Harris.

The situation is desperate for the club from purely a footballing point of view, with the squad due back for pre-season training in just over two weeks’ time.

With no manager in place it is becoming increasingly likely that coach Chris Hughton will be asked to take the early training sessions if Ashley has failed to conclude a deal in time.

Newcastle, who will learn their first Championship fixture in six days, need a buyer to be found quickly, so that a new manager can be appointed and can start to work on the personnel in his squad.

But even if talks between Harris are successful with any of the interested parties, due diligence will then have to take place to assess the books at St James’ Park.

■ Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong wants to leave the club.

Bassong was one of the few pluses for the Magpies last season after joining from Metz a year ago.

But the 22-year-old is looking for a Premier League club following Newcastle’s relegation.

‘‘I want to leave,’’ he said.

‘‘I want to develop in the Premier League.

‘‘I will have to weigh up the pros and cons (of any offer), study the sporting project, the amount of playing time they would want to give me...’’ Tottenham and Arsenal are reportedly interested in the former France Under-21 international.