The Times:
United expect to agree a fee of about £14 million to sign Michael Carrick from Tottenham Hotspur in the next 48 hours. No deal can be completed until the England midfield player returns from the World Cup finals. The club are hopeful of signing another midfield player, Mahamadou Diarra, from Lyons, for a similar fee.
PA on Carrick:
Spurs rejected United's initial offer of £10million last week and would not be drawn on the latest speculation involving the former West Ham player.
Manager Martin Jol has insisted the player will not be allowed to leave and the Dutchman added he had the backing of chairman Daniel Levy over the issue.
But talks over a new, longer term, deal for Carrick appear to have been put on hold.
The negotiations were due take place this summer after Carrick returned from duty with England in the World Cup but the club are understood to have offered the player vastly improved terms following United's interest.
Spurs are almost certain to place more pressure on Carrick and his advisors to step up negotiations in order to fend off the Red Devils.
Carrick still has two years of his contract remaining and Jol would like the player to pledge his future to the club in the same way Ledley King and Robbie Keane did towards the end of the season.