United close on Hargreaves
20 May 2007 - 11:34:57
Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of concluding their protracted bid to sign Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich.
United have agreed a fee believed to be £17million to land Hargreaves almost 12 months after Sir Alex Ferguson first revealed his interest in signing the England midfielder.
The 26-year-old will agree a four-year deal with the Premiership champions after Bayern reluctantly agreed to Hargreaves' wish to move to England following seven years in the Bundesliga.
The transfer fee will be a club record for Bayern, who finished their domestic season with a 5-2 victory over Mainz on Saturday .
Hargreaves, who was voted England's player of the year following his impressive displays in last summer's disappointing World Cup campaign, missed the match with a knee injury.
He refused to comment on the speculation after the match, but Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer hinted that the deal was close to being completed.
"If it is right there is an offer of 25-30million euros then I would seriously consider it," he told German television.
"I think the board also think this way to satisfy the needs of the player."