Transfer news: Manchester United emerged from a day of extensive negotiations with Paris St-Germain yesterday convinced they have all but finalised Ronaldinho's transfer to Old Trafford.
The player is in Brazil discussing the move with his family but has provisionally agreed a five-year deal, with an annual salary of £3.2 million.
Peter Kenyon, United's chief executive, broke off from negotiating with potential buyers for David Beckham to spend the day in France hoping to conclude a deal that would make Ronaldinho the first Brazilian to play for the club. He has offered £9 million and, although PSG wanted a figure closer to £12 million, Valencia and Juventus have been unwilling to follow up their inquiries by getting involved in an auction.
Alex Ferguson, on holiday in southern France, was kept abreast of yesterday's events and is awaiting confirmation from Ronaldinho's advisers.
PSG officials said last night it was "99.9 per cent certain he will leave for Manchester".
After a year-long pursuit of the 23-year-old, Ferguson will hope the move happens sooner rather than later, preferably before Brazil play in the Confederations Cup in France later this month.
If, as Kenyon is increasingly optimistic, PSG accept £9 million, United will also reflect on a piece of sound business given that they were quoted £18 million after Ronaldinho had starred in the World Cup last summer.
The arrival of one of the world's most high-profile players will ease the sense of disquiet among United's fans, who are growing increasingly resigned to the idea of Beckham being sold.
Kenyon's admission that he had spent Tuesday in London negotiating a £30 million deal with Sandro Rosell, a representative of the Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, has effectively ended the argument about whether United intend to sell the England captain.
It also enticed the first admission from Beckham's representatives that a move is possible.
"He has said that he wants to stay with United," said Jon Holmes, the managing director of SFX.
"If the club alter their view - and it needs all parties to change their view - then, of course, everything is possible in football."
Meanwhile, Harry Kewell has indicated he may sit tight at Leeds and walk out for nothing next year before fulfilling his dream of playing for one of Europe's top clubs.
With 12 months remaining on his current contract, Kewell is weighing up his lucrative options, with the 24-year-old due to discuss the possibility of signing a new Leeds deal when he returns from holiday next week.
Manchester United and Arsenal continue to be linked with Kewell, though manager Arsene Wenger is understood to prefer a player-plus-cash option.
When asked whether he would like to play for one of the Continent's super powers, Kewell, speaking at a public appearance for one of his sponsors in Melbourne, replied: "Of course.
"There's a lot of big clubs out there. You've got AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Marseille, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool.
"I'm just going to play my contract with Leeds and see where it takes me."
