Manchester United have confirmed they have rejected a bid from Newcastle for their England international Wes Brown.

The versatile defender sees his current deal with the Premier League champions expire in the summer and is free to talk to other clubs after having turned down a new deal offered by the Old Trafford club.

Those contract negotiations are still on-going, but Brown's failure to put pen to paper so far has put a number of clubs, including Newcastle, on red alert.

Magpies manager Sam Allardyce has been frustrated in his efforts to lure the 28-year-old to St James Park though, and United boss Alex Ferguson insists it is Brown who must now make the next move.

"There was an enquiry from Newcastle about Wes and we turned it down," Ferguson told the club's official website.

"The matter rests with Wes and his agent. We'll just wait and see what happens. Our offer is still there - it's now up to Wes."

Brown, who made his debut for United in the 1997/98 season, has made 20 appearances in the Premier League so far this campaign, ably deputising for the injured Gary Neville in the right-back position.

Should he leave Old Trafford, Ferguson would be left to choose between John O'Shea and Danny Simpson as cover for Neville.