|
EXCITED ABOUT FUTURE: West Ham striker Carlos Tevez, seen here relaxing with daughter Florencia and wife Vanesa at a swimming pool in a Venezuela hotel, has said he is looking forward to playing at Old Trafford. -- PHOTO: AP
|
LONDON - IT LOOKS like Carlos Tevez will be playing his football for Manchester United in the coming season.
The 23-year-old, now playing in the Copa America in Venezuela, told his Argentina teammates that a deal has been agreed for him to move to Old Trafford.
How much United would have to pay has yet to be confirmed.
The Daily Mail reported that a transfer fee of £20 million (S$60.4 million) has been agreed.
But The Times of London believes that Tevez will move to United initially on a 12-month loan deal, with a fee of about £4 million payable to Kia Joorabchian, and wages in excess of £3 million. Businessman Joorabchian owns the economic rights to the player.
Should United sign him on a permanent deal, they are likely to have to pay in the region of £35 million, the Times added.
The deal will not be officially declared until the middle of next week.
'He just cannot contain his excitement,' a source close to the Argentina camp told The Daily Mail.
Tevez, once fined when playing for Brazil's Corinthians for turning up at a press conference wearing a United shirt, has been coveted by top clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
He scored seven goals in his final 10 Premiership games for West Ham.
That included the winner at United on the final day that guaranteed West Ham's survival.
The capture of Tevez would be a loud signal of intent from United that they aim to defend their Premiership title resolutely and make a concerted attempt to win the Champions League.
Manager Alex Ferguson has already splurged more than £50 million to bolster a side containing the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Owen Hargreaves arrived for £17.3 million from Bayern Munich. He was joined by Nani, the 20-year-old Sporting Lisbon winger, and Anderson, the 19-year-old Porto playmaker, with the two deals understood to be worth around £35 million.
United were hoping to keep the Tevez transfer quiet until the furore over his controversial move to West Ham died down.
Relegated Sheffield United, who are demanding the Hammers be docked points for breaching rules on third-party agreements in the signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano, have launched a court case.
|
