Alex Ferguson began clearing the decks for the imminent arrival of Carlos Tevez by selling Giuseppe Rossi to Villarreal.

During Manchester United's pre-season tour of the Far East, Ferguson had suggested the futures of both Rossi and England international Alan Smith were in doubt as the Tevez deal edged closer to completion.

Smith is due to open negotiations with Newcastle, as Everton wait in the wings, but, with a date of August 22nd now set for a three-day hearing that will determine who owns Tevez's registration, Ferguson has felt confident enough to offload Rossi - a player of undoubted promise who has never really had the chance to fulfil it at Old Trafford.

Ferguson would no doubt have liked to keep Rossi at Old Trafford but he previously acknowledged a need to let the New Jersey-born youngster develop his own career.

Now, Rossi will get the chance to follow in the footsteps of another United old boy, Diego Forlan, at Villarreal.

But the mere confirmation of the 20-year-old's exit, subject to a medical, suggests an increasing confidence on Ferguson's part that Tevez will be at Old Trafford sooner rather than later.

The 23-year-old's advisor Kia Joorabchian has issued High Court proceedings against West Ham, who maintain Tevez is their player.

However, there has been plenty of speculation that a private settlement may be reached before then which would see Joorabchian pay West Ham a nominal fee in order to release Tevez from his contract.

"I am not worried because I am confident the player will eventually arrive," he said. "But it has been dragging on and it has become a bit frustrating.

"At the moment it is going to the High Court. I am sure we will get a final decision on the matter there. But if something happens before that, it is something we would welcome.

"I just want the matter settled, the sooner the better as far as everyone is concerned.

"I am sure even West Ham think that way. They have their own plans and they have done a lot of buying and selling, so they will want some kind of conclusion in terms of how their team is shaping up."