Hectic business at Old Trafford yesterday saw Manchester United edge closer to selling Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid and home in on Tottenham's Michael Carrick, whose transfer is set to be confirmed by the middle of next week after United agreed to pay around £15 million (€22 million) for the midfielder.
Van Nistelrooy is on the brink of completing his move to Madrid after United permitted him to travel to the Spanish capital for a medical this morning, though Real's insistence last night, on their official website, that agreement had been reached over his transfer appears to have been premature.
Instead, negotiations continue over the size of the fee required to secure the Dutchman, even if United are steadily accepting the reality that their £15-million valuation is unlikely to be reached.
An improved offer amounting to around £10.3 million for the transfer-listed forward had been submitted and rejected on Tuesday, though talks reopened yesterday with a view to striking a compromise.
Much will depend on how much money United can guarantee up front from the deal, rather than relying on add-ons and extra future payments.
"We have given permission for Ruud van Nistelrooy to travel to Real Madrid for a medical," said the Premiership club in a statement, reacting to Real's announcement that the move had effectively been completed barring a medical. "But the terms of agreement are yet to be finalised between the two clubs."
Yet such is the confidence at Real that a deal is close, it seems inevitable Van Nistelrooy will become Fabio Capello's third high-profile signing, after Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson from Juventus. The Spanish club indicated the Dutch international would be introduced to the media at the Bernabeu this evening after his medical ahead of signing a three-year contract.
His departure will represent the end of an era at Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games at the club after joining for a then British record £19 million in 2001, with United's supporters chanting his name during Wednesday's friendly victory at Celtic in recognition of that achievement. Alex Ferguson, whose relationship with the forward deteriorated markedly last term, must now find a replacement, with his principal target, Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres, having ruled out a move to Old Trafford.
However, the manager is close to strengthening his midfield by signing Carrick, who rejected an improved contract at Spurs in favour of a move to Old Trafford. The former West Ham player is 25 today and, subject to a medical and personal terms, expects to leave White Hart Lane after two seasons. Spurs bought Carrick for only £2.75 million in August 2004.
Despite the loss, manager Martin Jol is not short of players capable of operating in central midfield, with Edgar Davids, Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy, Teemu Tainio, Hossam Ghaly and the Ivorian summer signing Didier Zokora, but he is likely to try to buy a replacement before the transfer window closes.
Definitely not moving to Spurs is the Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved, who ignored overtures from Jol and Monaco in favour of staying at Juventus, despite the club's relegation to Serie B in Italy's match-fixing scandal. "I've never doubted that I would stay at Juventus," Nedved said yesterday. "I don't lack offers, but my family and I are settled in Turin and then I owe a lot to the club and the Agnelli family, who have always been close to me."
Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder has dismissed reports linking midfielder James Milner with a move away from St James' Park.
Iain Dowie is poised to offer £1.5 million to take Amdy Faye from Newcastle to Charlton Athletic.
Newcastle and Celtic are believed to be ready to offer Wayne Bridge a route out of Chelsea by preparing bids for the left-back.
