SIR Alex Ferguson looks to have beaten off competiton from Arsenal and Inter Milan for French starlet Gabriel Obertan thanks to his friendship with Bordeaux boss and former Reds centre back Laurent Blanc.

The 20-year-old is having a medical and reports in France say a £3million fee has been agreed and that Obertan will sign a four-year contract.

Obertan is a 6ft 1 in wide player who can perform on either flank, central midfield and also up front. He is a product of France's famous Clairefontaine national youth football academy.

The French club's president Jean-Louis Triaud had indicated that there was a "strong likelihood" that the transfer was due to go ahead.

It is now understood the youngster is set to make the official switch this week.

Blanc allowed the player to go on loan last season to Lorient as Bordeaux were contesting the French Ligue 1 title and his playing time had been limited.

But the French World Cup winner, who played for the Reds between 2001 and 2003, is clearly convinced Obertan has a future at Old Trafford.

Obertan has played more than 50 league matches for Bordeaux since 2006 and has progressed through all levels of French international football to the Under-21 side and scored against England in March in a friendly.

Obertan's capture will further add to the list of wingers at United including £16m Antonio Valencia from Wigan and 22-year-old Zoran Tosic, bought in January from Partizan Belgrade.

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