By Chris O'Brien
July 30 2006

Manchester United have agreed a fee, thought to be in the region of £15million, for Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick. The 25-year-old looks set to become the club's first summer signing.

Sir Alex Ferguson looks on the verge of capturing long-term transfer target Michael Carrick, with the Red Devils agreeing a fee with Spurs for the player's services.

The sale of Ruud Van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid appears to have made extra transfer funds available, and reports suggest the two fees have agreed on a substantial fee for the England international, believed to be in the region of £15million.

"Manchester United and Tottenham can confirm that they have agreed terms for the transfer." read an official club statement.

"The transfer is conditional upon the player agreeing personal terms and he will also be required to pass a medical that will take place on Monday."

It had looked like the 25-year-old would stay at White Hart Lane after Martin Jol rejected an initial £10million bid for the player from United. However, a move to Old Trafford was too much to resist for Carrick who urged Jol to allow him to leave the club with some two years remaining on his contract.

Carrick looks set to fill the void in United's midfield following Roy Keane's high-profile departure last season. However, critics have questioned whether the player has the experience to match such a hefty price tag. He has made only seven appearances for England and joined Tottenham for just £2.75million when he left West Ham in 2004.

It cannot be argued, though, that the player is one of the country's most exciting midfield prospects and performed superbly for Spurs as they came so close to Champions League qualification last season.
Hopefully the formalities of personal terms and a medical will go without a hitch and we can, finally, welcome our first summer signing to the Theatre of Dreams.