Ferguson keen on his new number 16

SOCCER: Michael Carrick will be the fifth most expensive player in Manchester United's history and become the new number 16 in place of the departed Roy Keane.

"He has settled down fine," Ferguson said last night. "I said to him, 'I'm giving you the number 16', so he was delighted at that. I think that showed great courage because sometimes players are a bit superstitious about things like that but he was keen and said he would gladly take number 16."

In 2004 Tottenham paid £2.75 million to West Ham, then of the Championship, for Carrick and restored a player who had made his England debut in 2001 to the top flight.

Some 75 games and two goals later the player is apparently worth almost seven times what Spurs paid. "I have not spoken to anybody who, with £18.6 million, would have spent it on Carrick," said Mark Longden of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association. "I can't understand what's going on."

Martin Jol may have spent time expressing his disappointment but he and his chairman Daniel Levy, on holiday in Florida, must still be pinching themselves. United have agree to pay just over £15 million to Tottenham, with West Ham thought to have a sell-on clause in the original deal. Other fees would be due to Spurs according to appearances, honours and England caps. There have been seven so far for the graduate of Tyneside's Wallsend Boys Club though only one, against Ecuador at the World Cup, was a competitive fixture.

The 25-year-old passed his medical and has the class to thrive on the pitch. As a deep-lying midfielder comfortable in possession and content dictating the rhythm he has quietly excelled after a difficult start under Jacques Santini.

"We are yet to see the best of Michael," said Frank Lampard Sr, who worked with Carrick at West Ham. "It was clear from the first time I saw Michael train that he was a rare talent. He always looked like he had time on the ball. It's something only a few have. No disrespect to Spurs but he will have to push himself at United because he's stepping up a level and there will be demands on him all the time."

The implication is Carrick can make similar progress to his former West Ham team-mate Frank Lampard, who joined Chelsea in 2001. "When you're training with world-class players every day you learn from them and raise your level," added Lampard Sr. "If you have got the capabilities, which Michael has, then you adapt and lift your level."

United will hope as much having missed out on Michael Essien, Mahamadou Diarra and John Obi Mikel as they sought a replacement for Keane. Strengthening remains a priority even after Carrick's arrival, however, with the void left by Ruud van Nistelrooy still to be plugged.

Ferguson will look to Carrick's arrival to bring some stability to the club after a turbulent summer which saw Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo at loggerheads during the World Cup.

Ronaldo returned to training after his extended break yesterday afternoon but, with Rooney only required for a morning session, the pair did not actually appear on United's Carrington training ground at the same time.

Meanwhile, Uefa have announced disciplinary regulations aimed at clamping down on racism and cheating in football.

Players making racist remarks or gestures could be banned for up to five matches. The measures will also see a club whose supporters engage in racist or discriminatory conduct receive a minimum fine of £19,000.

Two-match bans could also be handed out to players who simulate fouls or injuries to deceive the referee.