Man Utd boss Ferguson: We are close to signing Tevez

The 23-year-old’s representatives confirmed the Argentine striker have agreed personal terms with United last week, but it is believed it is the Premier League who is holding back the transfer.

Ferguson said: “We are in negotiations and want to make sure there are no side issues. The essential parts are agreed and hopefully it’ll be finalised soon.”

He added: “[Club solicitor] Maurice Watkins has been working on it for a month, maybe more, to make sure the deal is perfectly clear.

“To be honest I thought it would have all been sorted by the weekend just gone. It must be the Premier League that is holding it up.

“From what David [Gill] and Maurice said everything was ready to go. Unless something’s being held back from us, I don’t know of anything that’s holding it up.”