Manchester United are on the brink of completing the signing of goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak from West Brom.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already had two bids for the Polish
international turned down this summer, mainly due to his refusal to allow
promising striker Giuseppe Rossi to join the Baggies on loan.
West Brom boss Bryan Robson admitted yesterday there was no chance of getting
Rossi as Ferguson wants the teenager to remain at Old Trafford now Ruud van
Nistelrooy has departed for Real Madrid.
However, in leaving Kuszczak out of West Brom's trip to Cardiff tonight
completely, it seemed obvious a deal was on the cards and it is understands a
'complicated' transfer will be concluded within the next 48 hours.
The deal should trigger the departure of Ben Foster, who started tonight's
friendly with Oxford, to Watford for a second season on loan.
It is also anticipated a current member of the United squad - but not Rossi -
will move to The Hawthorns as part of the deal.
Meanwhile, United duo Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes will be free to face
Fulham on August 20, even though they still remain unsure whether they will have
to serve suspensions for their recent red cards in Amsterdam.
The pair were sent off during United's win over Porto on Friday night, yet
four days on the Football Association are still waiting to hear whether the
dismissals were reported to the Dutch FA.
With the Red Devils eager to get the matter cleared up before the season gets
underway, Soho Square chiefs will make contact with their Dutch counterparts
tomorrow to establish the situation.
However, as no punishment can be imposed until 14 days after the FA receive
the referee's report, both Rooney and Scholes are free to face Fulham in
United's Premiership opener and, in all probability, Charlton four days later.
Despite the delay, the most likely outcome remains that Rooney will
successfully appeal against an eventual violent conduct charge, reducing the
punishment for his foul on Pepe to a yellow card, with Scholes set to serve a
one-match ban if the same penalty applies to his tackle from behind on Ricardo
Quaresma due to him already being cautioned.
