Owen Hargreaves expects his £17million move to Manchester United to be completed by the end of the week.

Bayern Munich have already confirmed Hargreaves is leaving the Allianz Arena and while United have refused to comment the deal is apparently secured.

Although Hargreaves was due to feature for England B against Albania at Burnley on Friday, there is now some speculation Steve McClaren has said he does not need to see the midfielder in action prior to next week's friendly with Brazil and the key Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia that follows on June 6th.

Such a move would leave Hargreaves free to complete the final stages of his United move and the player confirmed further details should be known by the end of the week.

"It has been one of the longest transfer sagas," he told the BCC.  "I am sure this week we'll hear some new information."

With Ferguson due to watch the Champions League final in Athens and chief executive David Gill heading out to Malaysia in an attempt to smooth the anger which erupted over United's impending summer tour, the deal may not actually be concluded until the end of the week.

But, having identified Hargreaves as one of the men to take the Red Devils forward following their Premiership title triumph this term, Ferguson will eventually tie the Calgary-born player up on a four or five-year contract.