United close to completing Evra deal

Manchester United look set to complete the signing of a second defender tomorrow as Patrice Evra undergoes the final stages of…

Manchester United look set to complete the signing of a second defender tomorrow as Patrice Evra undergoes the final stages of a medical.

United unveiled £7million Serbia and Montenegro centre-half Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford today and Alex Ferguson's January spending will reach £12million when the deal for Monaco's Evra is finalised.

The 24-year-old could go straight into the squad for the Carling Cup semi-final against Blackburn on Wednesday.

Vidic, who has not played since Spartak Moscow's season ended in November, is likely to have to wait until next week's FA Cup replay with Burton for his debut.

READ MORE

The recruitment of the pair is likely to signal the end of Ferguson's winter buying with moves for midfielders Thomas Gravesen and Michael Ballack now ruled out.

Ferguson will now put his trust in the likes of Darren Fletcher and Alan Smith to provide back-up for Paul Scholes in the United engine room.

One United player on the move is striker David Bellion. The Frenchman, who had been on loan at West Ham this term, is now poised to complete a new loan move to Nice.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, struggling West Brom are ready to bring Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu back to the club where his career began.

The 33-year-old is reported to have agreed personal terms at The Hawthorns and the loose ends of a deal should be tied up sometime tomorrow.

Ehiogu, who would have been out of contract in the summer was given his chance in the professional game by West Brom at the age of 17.

The move would also reunite him with Bryan Robson, the manager who signed him for Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in an £8million deal in 2000.

Newcastle are expected to complete the signing of 29-year-old Lens defender Yoann Lachor this week and Liverpool are to run the rule over 19-year-old MK Dons goalkeeper David Martin.

In the Coca-Cola Championship Leicester have signed Walsall striker Matty Fryatt for an undisclosed fee and Darlington forward Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu has moved to Cardiff on a free transfer.