MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill has claimed the champions' bid to sign Carlos Tevez is "over-complicated".

After finishing on the losing side in last night's Copa America final as Brazil hammered Argentina 3-0, Tevez is now preparing to fly into Manchester for a medical which, under normal circumstances, would mark the end game in a £30m move from West Ham.

However, with the Premier League insisting any deal must be done directly between United and the Hammers rather than Kia Joorabchian, who owns Tevez's economic rights, the saga is some way from conclusion.

The Reds' legal expert Maurice Watkins has remained in England as efforts to resolve the dispute intensify.

And, after landing in Tokyo with the United party at the start of the club's four-match Far East tour, Gill confirmed United's intention to make Tevez their player.

"We are working on it," he said.

"In my opinion, it has become over-complicated. Effectively, we are trying to work with four parties - the player, West Ham, the company who own Carlos' economic rights and the Premier League in order to sort it out.

"The process is ongoing. The player will have a medical at some point this week, then we will take it from there.

"We still have to sort out the paperwork but we are confident that can be achieved in the course of the next week or so."

Solution

A West Ham spokesman added: "There is a desire to find a solution. For this to happen in the near future it has to involve a formal agreement between United and West Ham which is approved by the Premier League."

Tevez's arrival could coincide with the departure from Old Trafford of his Argentina teammate Gabriel Heinze.

Sir Alex Ferguson seems resigned to losing the popular full-back, but it is unlikely that he will be allowed to move to Liverpool, who are said to be ready to pay £6.8m for him.

"Gaby's agent has advised us that he wants to move on," said the United manager.

"I am not too sure about that and we do not have a concrete offer from any particular club.

"But there is some momentum regarding the player's next move in terms of through his agent, even if nothing is close at this moment in time."

There are set to be more sales to cover the bulk of the £25m-£30m need to pay for Tevez. Kieran Richardson, Gerard Pique and Alan Smith could follow Heinze through the exit door.

Richardson looks set to provide the first bit of cash in the credit column. Ex-Reds skipper Roy Keane is set to add the England under-21 midfielder to his promoted Sunderland side as the Championship title winners look to strengthen their squad for their big-time return.

Richardson made just 12 starts in United's successful Premiership campaign last term despite a crippling injury list and the arrival of Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson has further squeezed his chances in the engine room.

The London-born 22-year-old has also been on City and West Ham's radars but is expected to have a Stadium of Light medical this week with a view to a transfer that would be worth £5.5m to United.

United could bag £4m if defender Gerard Pique is allowed to leave, with Deportivo La Coruna the latest Spanish side keen on the 20-year-old.

He had a successful season-long loan to Real Zaragoza in La Liga last term and with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown ahead of him on the rearguard list and the up-and-coming Jonny Evans overtaking him as the young pretender, Pique could opt to return home.

Meanwhile, one person looking forward to teaming up with Tevez is United new boy Anderson.

The Brazilian 19-year-old, bought from Porto, saw the Argentine ace up close during the Copa America final last night, would love to have Tevez as a United colleague next term and is anticipating a battle royal for places in Fergie's XI.

"There will be rotation because it's a long season," he said. "All the players understand that, we're all prepared to play when called upon. Carlos Tevez is a great player and you can't have too many great players."

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