STILL IT LOOKS LIKE CARRICK IS ON HIS WAY

Last updated : 26 July 2006 By Ed

The Guardian:

Tottenham are resigned to losing Michael Carrick to Manchester United after the England midfielder rejected their final contract offer.

Spurs would have altered their wage and bonus structure to match the package offered by United but Carrick has made it clear that he wants to move, pointing to the Old Trafford club's participation in the Champions League and their greater proximity to his family home in Newcastle as key attractions.

Tottenham's manager, Martin Jol, will not attempt any further to dissuade the midfielder, whose rejections of contract offers and declaration of intent to move to United are being regarded as tantamount to a transfer request that will cost him compensation for the remaining two years of his contract. Jol allowed Pedro Mendes, Michael Brown and Sean Davis to leave in January and must now recruit a midfield replacement.

Spurs' chairman. Daniel Levy, will monitor negotiations for Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure from Old Trafford which will have an immediate bearing on United's resources for the Carrick deal. United have bid £10m for Carrick and do not wish to pay more than £12m but Spurs are expected to settle for a price around £17m which would weaken United in the transfer market.