Saha saga to end as FA study Rio appeal

LOUIS SAHA is expected to complete his controversial move to Manchester United by the end of the week when manager Alex Ferguson returns with the squad after a break in Dubai.

Saha had a medical at United yesterday after they had agreed in principle a deal thought to be worth around £12million with Fulham.

The 25-year-old striker was withdrawn from the team that went down to Newcastle on Monday night ahead of his imminent departure.

Ferguson has turned to Saha, who has scored 15 goals this season, to boost the club's attacking options.

United go into the FA Cup match against Northampton on Sunday without a goal in their last two games.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's return apparently some way off, Ferguson was anxious to get someone in before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Saha fits the bill in as much as he is experienced and eligible to play in the Champions League.

Meanwhile the Football Association have revealed details of the 121-page Rio Ferdinand appeal document they received from United yesterday.

A statement on the organisations official website, www.theFA.com, read: "Following various media reports today, the FA wish to clarify the nature of the appeal documents relating to Rio Ferdinand, received yesterday.

"The 121 pages are made up of 96 pages of appendices; 24 pages are the notice of appeal itself; one page consists of a covering letter.

"Every single document will be studied in detail over the coming days. Manchester United's appeal was received at the end of the 14 days they had to respond to the Disciplinary Commission's decision and reasons."

Meanwhile, Fulham are reported ready to snap up Tottenham's Irish striker Robbie Keane for £7m after crashing 3-1 to Newcastle on Monday night.

A £5m bid for West Ham's Jermain Defoe was turned down and Fulham manager Chris Coleman knows Spurs are keen to offload either Keane or strike partner Freddie Kanoute.

And with £12m coming in for the sale of Louis Saha to Manchester United, Coleman said: "I have money to spend but I am conscious of bringing in the right person. We know who we want."

Fulham have already dipped into the Saha money by signing American international Brian McBride for an undisclosed fee.

The 31-year-old Columbus Crew striker will join the club until the summer of 2006, pending approval for a work permit and a successful medical.

Arsenal's frustration with window shopping in the January sales has led them to make their first bid of the winter.

But those expecting West Ham's Jermain Defoe or Aston Villa's Juan Pablo Angel to be heading for Highbury were caught by surprise when it emerged that young Dutch forward Robin van Persie was Arsene Wenger's target.

The 20-year-old frontman has already been the subject of one failed bid from the Gunners, and his club, Feyenoord, are expecting a further offer.

They are believed to rate him at £4-5m, which would make him affordable to Arsenal, should they deem him worthy of the investment.

Rennes general manager Pierre Dreossi insists that there is still a considerable way to go before Chelsea wrap up the signing of the French club's Czech Republic international goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Dreossi and the Ligue 1 club's financial director, Olivier Tomine, have been at the forefront of negotiations and Cech is poised to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer on a five-year contract.

Charlton yesterday rejected a fresh £7.5m bid from Chelsea for Scott Parker with chief executive Peter Varney declaring once again that the highly-rated England midfielder would not be leaving The Valley.