SOCCER/FA Premiership: The saga of one Uruguayan footballer, two Premiership clubs and an army of agents took another twist yesterday when Diego Forlan's representatives, having apparently agreed a deal with Middlesbrough, flew into England for talks with Manchester United.
Forlan is scheduled to meet Middlesbrough's manager Steve McClaren today after a flight from Buenos Aires to London last night.
However, two days after Middlesbrough's chief executive Keith Lamb agreed a £6.9 million sterling fee with Independiente in Buenos Aires, a delegation acting on behalf of Forlan held talks with United's chief executive Peter Kenyon that could yet see the striker (23), move to Old Trafford.
According to Daniel Bolotnikoff, one of Forlan's advisers, Middlesbrough are the only club to have matched Independiente's valuation. United have offered in the region of £6 million and Lazio have also resumed interest after they were alerted to Middlesbrough's negotiations.
Officials at the Riverside hope to conclude the deal today, allowing Forlan to make his debut against United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday week. But any optimism will be tempered by the knowledge that United might match their offer.
Kenyon spoke at length with Bolotnikoff's delegation yesterday morning. Although United are still determined to sign Paolo di Canio from West Ham, it is clear that Forlan has become their priority.
Middlesbrough's bid has been complicated by an insistence on paying the bulk of the fee, much of which will go to Forlan's agents, in as many as 18 instalments. McClaren conceded that the deal was far from done.
"We're at a stalemate at the moment," the Middlesbrough manager said. "We knew there were big clubs all around Europe that were in for Diego and that's why we tried to take the bull by the horns and do the deal quickly. I don't think it's working out as we planned but we're not giving up."
Bolotnikoff said that his client would talk to United only if Independiente gave him permission. "Diego is set to fly into London and then to Middlesbrough, so at this late stage it might be hard for Manchester to do anything. I have had a meeting with Manchester. I heard what they said and I have explained to them the situation regarding Middlesbrough.
"Manchester have been following Diego for about a month and I know they had a bid rejected on Wednesday. I have told them if they want to do anything they will need to talk to Independiente."
Meanwhile, Lazio fans last night held up placards bearing the name of di Canio during last night's Italian Cup game.
Lazio officials, however, will not have been impressed with their former player's comments yesterday when comparing the Premiership to Serie A. "Here the clubs pay the wages on time, at times earlier. How many Italian clubs can say the same thing?
"At Lazio, Sergio Cragnotti is hostage of the capital gain, of the movements in the Stock Exchange. Lazio don't care about the fans but it is they who are the real owners of the club."
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