MANCHESTER CITY goal keeper Tony Coton will complete a cross town move to Old Trafford today.
Coton was a target for first division promotion chasers Sunderland last week, but the deal fell through when the two clubs were unable to agree on how the £500,000 fee should be paid.
That alerted City's bitter Manchester rivals United, and the 34 year old former England B goalkeeper will join the select band of players that have played for both clubs, if he passes a medical.
Alex Ferguson completed negotiations after agreeing to match Sunderland's offer.
"Our chairman has agreed a figure with Manchester City and we expect things to go through tomorrow," said Ferguson.
"I think Tony will give us the right back up. He's had a tremendous career at Manchester City and, to be honest, I have always felt that he should have been England's goalkeeper. He will be a terrific addition to us."
Coton will immediately be installed as Peter Schmeichel's deputy, but Ferguson was quick to point out that Les Sealey became an integral part of United success in the early 1990s after arriving at Old Trafford as cover.
He added: "Football is funny. Peter Schmeichel has already missed four or five games this season and you can think about how things changed when Les Sealey came to the club.""
Kevin Pilkington took over when Schmeichel was injured last month and Ferguson insisted the 21 year old still has a future at the club despite Coton's arrival.
He said: "Kevin did quite well, but he is young. Tony has great experience and he will give us great back up."
"Tony is capable of playing, in the first team and that is the important thing. It gives us great experience if anything happens to Peter Coton, joined City in a £1 million deal from Watford in 1990, and quickly became a firm favourite with the City fans.
But he was hampered by injury throughout last season, culminating in a summer operation to cure a nasty thigh problem, and City manager Alan Ball was forced to sign Eike Immel in a £400,000 deal from Stuttgart.
. Wolves are facing a race against time to clinch the permanent signing of Everton's Vinny Samways. Samways, 27, is coming to the end of a month long loan spell at Molineux and Wolves boss Mark McGhee must seal an agreed £1 million deal before midnight tonight to ensure that the midfielder is eligible to play against his former club Tottenham in the fourth round of the English FA Cup on Saturday week.
