SOCCER /Transfer Speculation: Manchester United are confident of signing the defender Hatem Trabelsi before Thursday's Champions League deadline after Ajax said they would not stand in his way and the 2002 Arab footballer of the year made it clear he wanted to move to Old Trafford.
Trabelsi (26) said: "I would be really interested to play for Manchester United. No one could turn down the chance to play for a club that big."
United are now preparing an official bid for the Tunisian international, although they do not want to pay the £6 million that was originally mooted. If they can agree a price, Trabelsi will become Alex Ferguson's fifth signing in a hectic summer of transfer activity that should see Juan Sebastian Veron follow David Beckham out of the club within the next 48 hours.
How far the arrival of a relatively unknown right back will go towards placating the United fans alarmed about the sale of the two best passers of the ball at Old Trafford remains to be seen but Ferguson believes he is close to signing one of the most competent defenders in Europe.
"Hatem is a fantastic right-back who can play right across the defence and I can see why people compare him to Lilian Thuram," said Ronald Koeman, the Ajax coach.
"He's been fantastic for us in the two years he's been here and I wouldn't want to see him leave. But it is possible because we cannot compare with clubs like Manchester United."
The situation with Veron has also become clearer over the last 24 hours. United informed Chelsea last night they are unhappy with the terms of their £15 million offer but, with Ferguson's consent, the club will continue negotiating today with a view to finalising a deal before Thursday.
Chelsea will be encouraged by the noises emanating from United's travelling party as they flew from Philadelphia into Portugal for tomorrow's friendly against Sporting Lisbon.
Kenyon has made it clear the difference between the club's valuation and Chelsea's offer is marginal and Ferguson's public assertion that he is opposed to the move is very different from what he is telling his directors in private.
A deal, therefore, should be concluded before Thursday given that Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's new owner, has the money available to increase the club's bid and, just as importantly, to tweak the structure of the payments more to United's liking.
Veron's stance has not changed, namely that he would prefer to stay at Old Trafford. However, the Argentinian is realistic enough to have instructed his agent Fernando Hildago to discuss a preliminary pay package with the men in power at Stamford Bridge.
The terms have been agreed in advance for a salary that would slightly improve his present £90,000-a-week deal, making him the highest-paid player in Chelsea's history.
His omission from United's 3-1 defeat of Barcelona here yesterday was a clear indication that United want to avoid him picking up an injury that could jeopardise the deal. Ferguson denied that suggestion but there has been a noticeable shift in the manager's attitude.
Whereas he had previously insisted he wanted Veron to stay, he was visibly uncomfortable when asked if the midfielder would start the season as a United player. "I can't answer that," he replied.
The match attracted a crowd of 68,396 to the Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. More than 270,000 people have watched United's four exhibition matches and, even if it was unreasonable to expect Ferguson's team to succeed where Best, Pele and Beckenbauer failed and establish football in the US alongside baseball, basketball and the NFL, the club are entitled to reflect on a successful tour.
With 14 goals scored and only three conceded, Ferguson will also feel that his players have immediately picked up the form with which they finished last season.
Patrick Kluivert gave Barcelona the lead with an early header after an assist from Ronaldinho, with whom Ferguson exchanged a friendly handshake after the match. But, with Tim Howard hugely impressive in goal, United then took control with two goals from Diego Forlan and a classy third from the substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy, taking both strikers to four goals in as many games.
And manager Ferguson believes 27-year-old van Nistelrooy, who is twoyears into a five-year contract, will get better still. "I can see him playing for us for another six years and, in that time, I think he can just get better and better," said Ferguson.
Guardian Service
