Dennis Rodman, the former NBA basketball player, will reportedly be in Singapore at the time of the highly anticipated summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un next week.

The former Chicago Bulls player, who is one of the few westerners to have met the dictator, will arrive in the country on Monday, a day before the meeting between the US president and the North Korean leader, the New York Post reported. It added that Rodman may even play a role in high-stakes talks.

“No matter what you might think about his presence. One thing’s for sure the ratings will be huge,” a source told the newspaper.

“A lot of times in situations that involve complex diplomacy countries like to identify ambassadors of goodwill and whether you agree with it or not Dennis Rodman fits the bill.”

The heavily tattooed Rodman has developed an unlikely relationship with the leader since making his first trip in March 2013, when he declared Kim Jong-un a "friend for life".