United swoop for Tevez: Sir Alex wants Argentine star on year’s loan

Discussions have taken place between high-ranking Old Trafford officials and connections of Tevez, 23. Hijacking the brilliant Argentina forward from under the nose of north-west rivals Liverpool would eclipse even United's recent £50m splash for Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.

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The deal, initially thought to be on a loan basis for at least a season,would depend on removing the complications which surrounded Tevez's arrival at Upton Park last August from Brazilian club Corinthians.

The issues had deterred United manager Sir Alex Ferguson from taking up an option to sign the striker and his international team-mate, midfielder Javier Mascherano, when they were offered to United last summer.

Tevez was offered to everybody,' said Ferguson. We were offered both him and Mascherano but, if I remember it correctly, we weren't sure of the deal.'

The controversial disciplinary action against West Ham raised a furore because the Premier League's independent commission refused to impose a points penalty on the relegation-threatened club. Tevez built on that reprieve by scoring six goals in West Ham's amazing run of seven wins in their last nine matches as Alan Curbishley's team escaped the drop.

It included the only goal of the game against champions United at Old Trafford when the issue was settled on the final day.

Sheffield United were condemned to relegation instead and responded by threatening legal action.

Ferguson has been unstinting in his admiration for the part Tevez played in West Ham's survival.

He is the one who lifted their game,' Sir Alex said. He scored a couple of really good free-kicks and seems to have a lot of enthusiasm.'

West Ham broke Premier League rules when they signed Tevez and Mascherano because the players were part-owned by a third party.

Mascherano has since joined Liverpool, whose manager Rafael Benitez is keen to reunite the pair at Anfield but who could be undone by United's audacious swoop.

Tevez's registration is currently held by West Ham, with whom he signed a four-year deal.

Technically that agreement still exists but the repercussions of the tribunal could mean Tevez is no longer bound by it and is, therefore, available on a free transfer.

The player's future will be thrashed out at a meeting this week between his lawyer, Graham Shear, and West Ham's legal team.

Kia Joorabchian, the Iranianborn British businessman whose company, MSI, own the economic rights to Tevez's transfer, has yet to meet West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson and is currently in Buenos Aires on business with the striker, who is preparing to play for Argentina in the Copa America.

But Joorabchian has appointed Shears to negotiate on his company's behalf after a planned meeting with Magnusson was cancelled last week. MSI will demand that West Ham reinstate the now-notorious clauses in Tevez's contract which give the company rights over the striker's transfer.

The Hammers claimed,following the disciplinary case against them, to have torn up that part of their original deal with Joorabchian, a move that prompted the Premier League to allow Tevez to play on during West Ham's controversial escape from relegation.

West Ham want to discuss the possibility of keeping Tevez at Upton Park but that is an increasingly forlorn hope given United's interest. However, in order for negotiations to begin between the clubs, the West Ham issue will have to be resolved.

West Ham's negotiations with Joorabchian and Tevez's lawyers may also impact on the forthcoming arbitration claim by Sheffield United, who requested a hearing over the player's continued eligibility.

Joorabchian is likely to sue West Ham if the club do not reinstate his player's contract, which allowed the businessman to dictate where and when Tevez could move.