Reds close in on Tevez

July 05, 2007

CARLOS Tevez will sign for Manchester United next week in a deal expected to be worth around £20million.

The Reds are expected to announce that they have wrapped up a deal to bring the 23-year-old Argentina striker to Old Trafford.

The only stumbling block could be a challenge from West Ham United, who claim to own the player's registration after his season playing for them in the Premiership.

The deal will confirm United as the biggest spenders in world football this summer, taking their outlay past the £70m mark after the captures of Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.

Tevez, known in Argentina as `Carlitos', has always claimed to be a United fan - he caused a storm while playing for Brazilian club Corinthians by turning up at a press conference wearing a Reds shirt.

United have been tracking Tevez, currently representing his country in the Copa America in Venezuela, since last summer, as exclusively revealed by M.E.N. Sport at the time.

There was talk last summer that his move to West Ham, along with international teammate Javier Mascherano, was simply a `marking time' move before he signed for either Chelsea or United.

West Ham claim to own his registration, although the rights to Tevez are still owned by shadowy London-based organisation Media Sports Investments (MSI).

M.E.N. Sport understands that West Ham were the only club willing to accept MSI's terms when they shocked world football by signing Tevez and Mascherano - now at Liverpool - last summer.

United have insisted that they must fully own the rights to Tevez to effect the deal, but still face opposition from the Hammers as they cling to the fact that they hold his registration.

The Reds need to be certain to avoid the kind of controversy which came close to costing West Ham their Premier League place after it was discovered that the transfer had broken league rules in signing the Argentine pair.

In the end, the Hammers were lucky to escape with a record £5.5m fine for the transgression.

How do you think Tevez will fit in at United? Have your say.

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salfordite (05/07/2007 at 10:53)

Tevez will fit like a glove. The right age, great attitude and a proven premiership player. Like Rooney, Ronaldo and Nani he has the ability to atack down the right, the left or centrally. A forward line containing Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Anderson and Nani is an exciting prospect for the future. I think at 23 Tevez would be the elder statesman. Let's hope this happens. So much for the Glazers denying the manager funds.

Birdy, Ireland (05/07/2007 at 10:53)

Brilliant. Really hope we sign him. Dont care a jot how he's gonna fit in. After Christmas last season he was superb for West Ham. I dont think he's gonna bag 20 goals a season, well maybe in all competitions but not in the league, but we probably have to get over our obsession with 20 goal a season players anyway. With Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Saha, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson and Nani we'd have an unbelievable selection of attacking players to choose from. Very very exciting times. I just hope now that this is not merely paper talk and it actually comes to fruition. It obviously means a couple of players will be sold - Smith and KR being most at risk. Wow. Bring it on!!!

ALFIE (05/07/2007 at 10:54)

Oh tevez it just gets better and better bring on the season now cant wait.
What a squad were going to have.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (05/07/2007 at 10:59)

I think he would fit in, a bit too similar to rooney but that's not too bad a thing, though if saha is injured as usual we will be left with quite a few small front men.It looks like it is def easier to sign players when chelsea have there purse strings tied.

The Right to Reply (05/07/2007 at 11:00)

I cant tell you how excited many United fans are about next season, we now have what you can call a "SQUAD" to fight on all fronts. bring it on! what a team (if they all gell together)well done Fergie in bringing in these fantastic new players,thats what we all wanted. and pay our ticket monies for!!

Numquam Moribimur, Arnhem (05/07/2007 at 11:00)

The article opens with: "CARLOS Tevez will sign for Manchester United next week in a deal expected to be worth around Â£20million."

No MEN journalist has put his name on this, and the only source I've seen (on another website) was Daily Mirror.

As much as I think Tevez would be the best choice for the missing piece in the United team (especially after Torres left for Liverpool, and the initial disappointment was eased by learning that he and his friends are major Liverpool fans), I have a hard time believing anything from the British Press. I'll believe it when I see a picture of him next to Mr. Gill, signing papers, or holding up our beloved shirt.

Gerry, Glastonbury (05/07/2007 at 11:06)

This is unbelievable if true.
We've become the new Chelsea!!!! It certainly looks as if a real financial commitment has been made for us to dominate over the next decade.
What a side of skill and flair we'll have now with the likes of Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Rooney and Ronaldo. If Saha stays fit then I'd include him as well. It's utterly awesome. On paper our squad looks fantastic.
I wonder who'll go? Perhaps a surprise or two? Will Rossi stay now that another new striker seems to have dented his prospects of first team action?

MATT - is a Red and he hates scousers!, Manchester (05/07/2007 at 11:06)

What happened to getting a striker in the mould of Saha?
Surely Rooney, Rossi and Tevez are all too similar?
Or is this an indication that Rossi might go? I hope not

Demo, Glossop (05/07/2007 at 11:07)

the main problem with bringing in 4 or 5 new players is getting them to gel but i dont see this as a problem as a believe anderson and particularly nani will be introduced gradually.

i like tevez but not sure he is the target man but more rather a second striker just like rooney! but then again i may be wrong!

just hope it doesnt mean rossi wont get his chance - he is well deserving of it

Alf For The Devils, Ipswich (05/07/2007 at 11:12)

Unlike most MU fans i dont think Tevez is the player we need. We want an out and out striker and not another player who can play right,left and centre.
I want everybody if they can stay awake to watch Diego Milito in action tonight. He will be a better option and even cheaper than Tevez who is too similar to Rooney.

Frank Old Trafford (05/07/2007 at 11:15)

Reports are coming in from around the world of numerous cases of united fans spontaneously exploding from sheer happiness. Eye witness accounts say that the victims, on hearing the news of the Tevez signing, produced unnaturally large grins which seemed to trigger the self combustion, which was rather messy.

At the same time we have received news from London that the city's emergency services are on full alert as most of the tall buildings have large groups of young men, wearing Chelsea and Arsenal shirts, on top of them threatening to throw themselves off.

All remains calm in Liverpool as they haven't discovered the reason that they can't understand the Echo is because it is printed purely in Spanish.

MATT - is a Red and he hates scousers!, Manchester (05/07/2007 at 11:17)

Tevez is a good player, but I feel Rooney and Rossi have us covered in that department and that Anelka would be more suitable and cost effective. So I just hope this is paper talk, unless we get Anelka too, or is that just plain greedy?

Bill69, Bury. UK (05/07/2007 at 11:19)

I think it will be a big mistake to shell out all that money for Tevez. He is not that great, at the beginning playing for West Ham he was pathetic, now because he had a few good games at end of season he is a great player. I know Utd. went after him a year or so ago, but that fell through. Now we aim to make the same mistake as we did for buying Michael Carrick at over the list price. Wake up Utd. there are many other top European Players waiting to move to us for that sort of money. Be bold.
Bill69

when the red red robin goes bob bob bobbing along, Venezuela (05/07/2007 at 11:20)

WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? We've got a shipload of debt and now this takes the season's spending to 70 million. Strikes me that SAF is hawking the club's future so that he can win champs league next season and then walk off into the sunset and leave the next manager to suffer and the fans to pick up the pieces. Irresponsoble SAF - it's man utd that the fan's are concerned about and not SAF!

Hangey, Luxury Hill !! (05/07/2007 at 11:22)

This is Unbelievable! Nice to see that United have realised the threat possed by the upcoming scousers and Chelsea! For sure this will put us on top of the English Football for many more years to come!! GGU!!

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (05/07/2007 at 11:23)

Absolutely fantastic news. What a summer !! These players alone (OH,Nani,Anderson and Tevez) would have improved the 80's side enough for a challenge on the league. How much they improve the current sqaud I imagine would be off the scale. If they improve the first 11 by even 5 percent we will take some stopping. Wont let myself get too excited because when we signed Ruud and Veron I thought noone could stop us then we spent most of the next 5 seasons getting nowhere near the top prizes. These players should fit better though without the constraints of an English 442 at the club and with the likes of Ronaldo already flourishing in our style of play its hard to see a Veron type disaster. Tevez is already proven and OH is exactly what we need in midfield . Anderson and Nani have to prove they can make it. I dont see a problem for either though. Now sell Richardson Smith Hienze Eagles and Lee Martin and even our squad players would be decent (yes I include Fletch in that !!) What a summer when you even consider Fletch as DECENT !! Its all too much to bear. Anyone scared about little Ciddys new owner buying a few average prem players ??

Joe, Malta (05/07/2007 at 11:23)

Gerry, we re not the new Chelsea. Chelsea spend half of the 70million (how much we ll spend) on 1 striker Shevchenko.

spoonofmilk, Exeter (05/07/2007 at 11:24)

This story was also reported as a headline on the BBC News website as well, so this certainly has more credence than from the Mirror and the Express.

Personally, I think it's a great move. A tad expensive, but I'm guessing that's the cost of getting him out of the MSI deal rather than your normal transfer fee to Wet Spam.

Oni Andoko - Jakarta, Indonesia (05/07/2007 at 11:26)

Once Tevez comes to OT, that's mean (IMHO) Ole + Saha + Smith will go.

I think SAF would keep Rossi as substitute to Teves or Rooney.

I don't know about Dong Fang Zhou future, he might stay as MU player but will be loan to West Ham (Coach Curbishley in fact as SAF best friend) / Sunderland (Coach Keane as former MU legend) / other club.

Jaco, South Africa (05/07/2007 at 11:29)

Signing Tevez would make us the clear favourites next season. Not only is he an exceptional player, very close to Wayne Rooney's ability, but he is also a clinical finisher and also a set piece expert. He will add another dimension to our team which we have lacked since selling David Beckham, and that is to consistently offer a threat from set-pieces.
I have to admit I was disappointed when Liverpool signed our long term target Fernando Torres, but my mouth is watering at the thought of Tevez completing our strike force.

Gerry, Glastonbury (05/07/2007 at 11:31)

This story is in most of the daily papers so let's hope it has some value.
On the score of who goes to balance the books it looks curtains for Smith, Richardson, Eagles, and perhaps the likes of Sylvestre, Rossi and as we know Heinze could be on his way as well. This is likely to be Solskjaer's last season whatever happens but I wonder if one of Fletcher, O'Shea or Park may also go?

RedRonny, Nairobi (05/07/2007 at 11:32)

This would be fantastic if it happens. Though Tevez may have a similar type of play to that of Rooney, we must also remember that we cannot ask Rooney to play 90 minutes for 50 games throughout the season. Tevez will give us an option. Remember that he can also take free kicks something that Roo cant do. He along with Hargreaves will give us a set piece threat as will Nani and Ronaldo for those sit tight defences. If this is true then the future is really exciting. I now look forward to a few sales and this must surely mean that Smith, Richardson, Fletch (who will be fifth choice in the pecking order should his 'dad' keep him), Sylvestre not Gaby will go. I would like to see Rossi and Pique get their chances though. That done we would have a perfect squad now let them gel quickly.

manc abroad, OT (05/07/2007 at 11:38)

This story is on the BBC Website and Radio 5.

I think this is Carlos Q's doing and his choices not SAF's. If this is true, which I hope it is, then I think we will be playing 4-2-3-1 next season where the front four players will be continually inter changing position.

Bring on August. the future is bright, the future is RED.

cr7, u.s of a (05/07/2007 at 11:41)

now we can play samba football....ron, roon,nani, anderson and now tevez.. what a team..pheww...

kokka78, italy (05/07/2007 at 11:41)

i prefer to see Rossi and smith in the team than Tvez

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