Tevez camp test League by claiming deal is done

The gauntlet was thrown down to the Premier League last night with an announcement that Carlos Tevez will fly into Britain on Tuesday for a medical at Old Trafford amid claims that he will sign for Manchester United next week.

The Argentina striker has been at the centre of a contractual wrangle which had delayed his proposed £35m move from West Ham.

But Tevez's adviser, Kia Joorabchian, last night released a statement saying that the transfer would go ahead. It read: "On Tuesday Carlos Tevez will fly to Britain for a medical at Old Trafford as part of the process of his transfer to Manchester United.

"It is our understanding that all parties involved in the transfer are now satisfied the administrative issues will be settled in the next few days. "

The "parties" the statement refers to are understood to be Manchester United, MSI (the company headed by Joorabchian who claim to own Tevez's economic rights) and West Ham ­ but not the Premier League. Joorabchian added: "We don't see any problems. I spoke to United tonight and they are confident they will have him registered next week."

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, told Sky Sports News last night: "I think we have got the player ­ we think he is our player and are very hopeful. The Premier League seem to be holding back, I think they probably want to make sure everything is transparent. We want that to be the case ­ we don't want a bad taste surrounding the transfer, we want it done cleanly. But as far as our club are concerned, everyone was excited when we thought we could get Tevez. He's exciting, his form is fantastic and at 23 he can get better ­ I think he kept West Ham up."

Manchester United have already agreed terms with Tevez. The player would receive £90,000 a week after initially signing a two-year loan with a view to a permanent five-year deal.

But the deal stalled after the Premier League insisted that West Ham had to receive the majority of the transfer fee. However, while the Upton Park club hold Tevez's registration, his economic rights are owned by Joorabchian. Sources close to Joorabchian are confident they are on a sound legal footing to go ahead with the transfer.

The deal must still be approved by the Premier League, however. It could be the dispute is now set for the courts. Either the Premier League takes legal action, holds a second inquiry into the whole affair or backs off and lets the deal go through.

Last night the Premier League warned Joorabchian that Tevez's registration would not be transferred unless they were satisfied that West Ham conducted the transfer. A spokesman said: "Any deal for Carlos Tevez has to be done directly with West Ham United. They hold the registration and we will not transfer the registration unless a deal is done directly with the club."

A West Ham spokesman said: "There is no deal in place regarding Carlos Tevez. He remains contracted to and registered with West Ham and there is no change to that situation. Obviously, a move cannot take place without the agreement of West Ham and the Premier League."

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