Manchester United hope to discover this week whether they have successfully negotiated a way through the intricate process necessary to make Carlos Tevez the fourth high-profile signing of a summer of heavy transfer expenditure at Old Trafford.
While Alex Ferguson has been holidaying on the French Riviera, United's chief executive, David Gill, has been trying to find a way to lure Tevez away from West Ham.
Ferguson has been looking for another striker after signing Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson for around £50 million and information has reached Old Trafford that Tevez wants to leave Upton Park for a bigger club.
The Argentinian, West Ham's player of the year, was offered to United last summer along with his compatriot Javier Mascherano but the club were deterred by the complicated issues surrounding his ownership.
United's reluctance to go ahead with the deal was vindicated when the Premier League charged West Ham with breaking rules on third-party influence and fined them £5.5 million as well as seriously considering docking points.
Any transfer to Old Trafford would depend on those issues being resolved but United are increasingly optimistic of pulling off the deal and making another statement of their intent not to allow Chelsea re-establish themselves as England's top team next season.
United's confidence is justified by the fact Mascherano was allowed legally to move to Liverpool in January, but if they wish to purchase Tevez outright, they must pay considerably more than the £12 million reported at the weekend.
Tevez scored six goals as West Ham won seven of their last nine Premiership games to escape relegation, and he got the winner when Alan Curbishley's team won 1-0 at Old Trafford on the final day of the season.
Curbishley is desperate to keep him at Upton Park and make him the fulcrum of their team, but Tevez's availability is widely known among Europe's top clubs and United will have to see off strong competition, with Liverpool among those also keen to tempt the 23-year-old away from east London.
There is also strong interest from abroad, with Internazionale heading the list of suitors.
Tevez's representatives were in Milan last week to discuss a potential move to the San Siro. Ownership issues would be less of a concern for the Italian champions than for Premiership clubs but Tevez would look favourably upon a move that takes him to one of England's leading clubs.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Heinze has admitted he would seriously consider leaving Manchester United for Barcelona.
The 29-year-old Argentina full back insists he will not make a decision about his future until after this summer's Copa America but would be tempted by a move to the Nou Camp.
Heinze is thought to be out of favour at Old Trafford after some indifferent form last season.
He said: "I know some clubs are interested in me but I have decided to leave this subject on standby for the moment.
"Barcelona is a super club, like Manchester United. If a formal offer is tabled, I'll need to study it calmly.
"Nobody at United has told me I'm not wanted next season. I know the rumours of transfer offers have appeared but that's not a problem for me."
Guardian Service
