Louis Saha is expected to complete his dream move to Manchester United at the end of the week, dashing Chris Coleman's hopes of keeping him at Fulham.
Louis Saha: Old Trafford-bound (PhilCole/GettyImages)
Barely a fortnight after Cottagers owner Mohamed-al-Fayed told Sir Alex Ferguson 'read my lips - Louis Saha is not for sale', the billionaire owner of Harrods has accepted the futility of trying to halt the United juggernaut.
Although United were at pains to stress tonight that the deal to turn the striker into a Red Devil was still subject to a number of conditions, they are only believed to be the medical and personal terms, which should present few problems.
'Manchester United can confirm that they have reached agreement in principle with Fulham Football Club for the transfer of registration of Louis Saha, but this is subject to a number of conditions,' said United in a statement this evening.
'Manchester United expects these conditions to be resolved within the next week and will make a further announcement on completion.'
Ferguson is currently in Dubai on a short break with the remainder of the United squad but will no doubt be delighted with the capture of his number one transfer target, who will bolster his side's Champions League campaign when it resumes against Porto next month.
He has known for 18 months he is short of a forward to take the weight of responsibility from prolific Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy and most United fans have shuddered at the thought of the former PSV Eindhoven star suffering a long-term injury.
The 1-0 defeat at Wolves yesterday represented the Red Devils' second Premiership game without a goal and, though Diego Forlan has proved to be a willing substitute, he appears to lack the ability to operate at the very highest level.
The situation has not been helped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's slow recovery from a knee operation, with Ferguson hinting on Friday that the Norwegian star, who has been out of action since the middle of September, will not return before the end of the month.
After having one firm bid turned down, Ferguson is believed to have instructed chief executive David Gill to increase the offer and Fulham have bowed to the inevitable, bringing an acrimonious saga to an end which will no doubt prove to be a salutary lesson in Coleman's fledgling managerial career.
The Welshman has earned plenty of praise for the way he has continued to insist that Saha, who had over two years left on his contract, would not be allowed to leave.
At various points, Coleman has said he felt as though he was being bullied and that the Frenchman, whom he stuck by when he struggled to adapt to life in the Premiership following his £2.1million move from Metz in 2000, would leave 'over my dead body'.
As he prepares to take his team to St James' Park for tomorrow's Premiership encounter with Newcastle, Coleman will no doubt be haunted by his own words.
However, when he reflects on how the events unfolded, Coleman will realise Saha's position at Fulham became untenable on Wednesday, when he launched his furious broadside at the Cottagers' board and warned them if he wasn't allowed to leave immediately, he would stay for the remainder of his contract and quit on a Bosman-style free transfer.
'Fulham are not honest,' he said. 'The club's managers keep changing their opinion. 'One day they say yes to a transfer and the next day they say no. They think I am an object.
'Either I leave now or I am staying at Fulham until the end of my contract which finishes in 2006.
'If Fulham love me that much they are going to have to cope with me until the end and then I will leave them for zero Euros.'
Saha's outburst won him little friends in the football world but it had a dramatic effect on his club.
Faced with the prospect of losing out on an estimated #10million transfer fee, Al-Fayed had little option to accept United's revised offer, especially as reported interest from Chelsea only provoked stubborn resistance from the Old Trafford outfit, who said they would not enter an auction for the player.
Providing there are no unforeseen problems, United will confirm the transfer later this week but Saha will not be eligible for Sunday's FA Cup tie at Northampton.
Instead, he is likely to make his debut in the Premiership clash with Southampton at Old Trafford on January 31 when Ferguson's side will look to ensure they don't complete three goalless league games in succession for the first time since 1992."
I can't believe it actually happened
Louis Saha: Old Trafford-bound (PhilCole/GettyImages)
Barely a fortnight after Cottagers owner Mohamed-al-Fayed told Sir Alex Ferguson 'read my lips - Louis Saha is not for sale', the billionaire owner of Harrods has accepted the futility of trying to halt the United juggernaut.
Although United were at pains to stress tonight that the deal to turn the striker into a Red Devil was still subject to a number of conditions, they are only believed to be the medical and personal terms, which should present few problems.
'Manchester United can confirm that they have reached agreement in principle with Fulham Football Club for the transfer of registration of Louis Saha, but this is subject to a number of conditions,' said United in a statement this evening.
'Manchester United expects these conditions to be resolved within the next week and will make a further announcement on completion.'
Ferguson is currently in Dubai on a short break with the remainder of the United squad but will no doubt be delighted with the capture of his number one transfer target, who will bolster his side's Champions League campaign when it resumes against Porto next month.
He has known for 18 months he is short of a forward to take the weight of responsibility from prolific Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy and most United fans have shuddered at the thought of the former PSV Eindhoven star suffering a long-term injury.
The 1-0 defeat at Wolves yesterday represented the Red Devils' second Premiership game without a goal and, though Diego Forlan has proved to be a willing substitute, he appears to lack the ability to operate at the very highest level.
The situation has not been helped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's slow recovery from a knee operation, with Ferguson hinting on Friday that the Norwegian star, who has been out of action since the middle of September, will not return before the end of the month.
After having one firm bid turned down, Ferguson is believed to have instructed chief executive David Gill to increase the offer and Fulham have bowed to the inevitable, bringing an acrimonious saga to an end which will no doubt prove to be a salutary lesson in Coleman's fledgling managerial career.
The Welshman has earned plenty of praise for the way he has continued to insist that Saha, who had over two years left on his contract, would not be allowed to leave.
At various points, Coleman has said he felt as though he was being bullied and that the Frenchman, whom he stuck by when he struggled to adapt to life in the Premiership following his £2.1million move from Metz in 2000, would leave 'over my dead body'.
As he prepares to take his team to St James' Park for tomorrow's Premiership encounter with Newcastle, Coleman will no doubt be haunted by his own words.
However, when he reflects on how the events unfolded, Coleman will realise Saha's position at Fulham became untenable on Wednesday, when he launched his furious broadside at the Cottagers' board and warned them if he wasn't allowed to leave immediately, he would stay for the remainder of his contract and quit on a Bosman-style free transfer.
'Fulham are not honest,' he said. 'The club's managers keep changing their opinion. 'One day they say yes to a transfer and the next day they say no. They think I am an object.
'Either I leave now or I am staying at Fulham until the end of my contract which finishes in 2006.
'If Fulham love me that much they are going to have to cope with me until the end and then I will leave them for zero Euros.'
Saha's outburst won him little friends in the football world but it had a dramatic effect on his club.
Faced with the prospect of losing out on an estimated #10million transfer fee, Al-Fayed had little option to accept United's revised offer, especially as reported interest from Chelsea only provoked stubborn resistance from the Old Trafford outfit, who said they would not enter an auction for the player.
Providing there are no unforeseen problems, United will confirm the transfer later this week but Saha will not be eligible for Sunday's FA Cup tie at Northampton.
Instead, he is likely to make his debut in the Premiership clash with Southampton at Old Trafford on January 31 when Ferguson's side will look to ensure they don't complete three goalless league games in succession for the first time since 1992."
I can't believe it actually happened
but seriously, theyre going down
