Dundee are remaining tight-lipped amid speculation that manager Ivano Bonetti is set to leave the club.

The Italian boss will meet club officials this week ostensibly to discuss team matters.

However, after spending so much time in his homeland over recent weeks, Bonetti's position at the club has become the centre of conjecture.

The club maintain that the talks will remain confidential between both parties.

A Dundee spokesman said: "We are having discussions with our manager on a variety of issues.

"But those discussions will be private and it would be wholly improper to make any further comment at this stage."

Bonetti took over at Dens Park from Jocky Scott, whose contract was not renewed by the club in the summer of 2000.

The Italian created a stir on Tayside, bringing in an array of foreign talent including strikers Juan Sara and Fabien Caballero and midfielder Giorgi Nemsadze.

Bonetti then pulled off a major coup with the arrival of friend and Argentinian World Cup star Claudio Caniggia in October 2000.

Bonetti's cosmopolitan side played very attractive football and finished in the top six of the Premier League before the inaugural end-of-season split.

Last season, however, proved a disappointment with Dundee finishing in ninth place.

Several foreign players have been released as the club need to cut their wage bill and many Sunday newspapers are of the opinion that Bonetti could follow them out of Dens Park.