United close to sealing Park deal

MANCHESTER UNITED expect to confirm the capture of Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung within the next week.

The final stages of Park’s move from PSV Eindhoven are now being thrashed out, with an agreement between the parties tantalisingly close.

If no last-minute problems surface, the transfer, which is expected to cost the Old Trafford outfit around £5m, could even be concluded by the end of the week.

That timescale would certainly suit Alex Ferguson, whose squad are due to return to United’s Carrington training ground on Monday to begin preparations for the new campaign.

Aside from the goalkeeping vacancy, which has been filled by the arrival of Edwin van der Sar, Ferguson has made the purchase of an explosive midfield man one of his major summer priorities.

Park, 24, was one of the outstanding performers in South Korea’s shock march to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002.