MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson flew out to Spain yesterday confident of signing Jordi Cruyff, for the bargain price of £1.5 million.
If Ferguson's cloak-and-dagger mission proves to be successful he will return to England before the weekend accompanied by the 22-year-old son of the legendary Johann Cruyff.
Cruyff's junior's working relationship with Barcelona has crumbled since his father, the club's coach since 1988, suffered the indignity of dismissal towards the end of last season.
Although the new Barcelona coach, former England manager Bobby Robson, has spent the past few weeks studiously applying oil to turbulent waters, Cruyff is grimly determined to leave the club which nurtured his precocious talent from the age of 14.
Indeed, Robson's fight to retain the services of one of football's most promising talents would appear to be at an end. Under the terms of his contract Cruyff is able to join any non-Spanish club for the pre-set fee of £1.5 million provided any deal is struck before he celebrates his 21st birthday early next year.
Predictably, Ferguson has already agreed to meet that asking price and last night he was waiting, chequebook in hand, for formal permission to open negotiations about personal terms with Cruyff and his agent.
It was during the recent European Championship finals that Cruyff first admitted a desire to join the exodus of top continental talent to the Premiership. Only last week United confirmed the signing of the Czech Republic mid-fielder Karel Poborsky who is moving to Old Trafford from Slavia Prague in a £3.5 million deal.
Inter Milan said yesterday they had reached agreement in principle with Ajax Amsterdam to buy young Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu.
Inter are waiting to discuss details of the deal with the 20-year-old player on his return from Atlanta, where he is competing for Nigeria at the Olympic Games.
Inter, who in recent years have wilted in the shadow of successful neighbours AC Milan, have gone on a spending spree this summer, picking up Your Diorkaeff from Paris St Germain and Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano from Real Madrid.
