Premiership: Blanc jets in for United talks

French World Cup star Laurent Blanc is flying to England and should be a Manchester United player by the end of the day.

The central defender will leave Inter Milan on a free transfer, and is wanted by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Jaap Stam, who departed to Lazio for £16.5m.

Blanc, a close friend of United keeper Fabien Barthez, has turned down moves to Old Trafford on at least three previous occasions but seems certain to sign this time.

He will meet United officials but they will not include Ferguson, who is attending a G14 managerial get-together in Geneva.

United need to make a signing before the end of the week for Stam's replacement to be eligible for the Champions League first group stages.

Blanc, 36, sat on the bench at the weekend as Inter beat Perugia 4-1 at the San Siro after being replaced at the centre of the defence by Colombian Ivan Cordoba and former Everton player Marco Materazzi.

Blanc is likely to demand wages of around £2m a year but is the sort of experienced defender Ferguson needs to replace Stam.