Veron ready to join Blues, says agent

Juan Sebastian Veron is ready to sign for Chelsea following Manchester United’s acceptance of a £15m (€21m) transfer bid for the Argentinian midfielder.

Veron’s agent Fernando Hidalgo confirmed his client is preparing to sign a four-year contract in a deal set to cost United in the region of £13m (€18m) on the price they originally paid for the player.

United signed Veron for £28.1m (€39.8m) in July 2001 from Lazio but announced via the Stock Exchange this morning that they are now prepared to let him go for a little over half that sum.

Hidalgo said: “The player will arrive in London at midday. He’s going to take his medical tests and he will sign a four-year contract.

“He is happy. It has been a club [United] decision, and he has accepted it. He is ready to do the best he can with this new opportunity at Chelsea.”

Veron’s move appears set to go through, despite protestations from Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson last week that he did not want Veron to leave.

Alluding to those initial doubts, Hidalgo added: “When decisions are made, everyone has to follow the consequences.

“Seba [Veron] is proud to join Chelsea – but it was not his intention to leave the club [United].”