Park on way to Old Trafford

Manchester United have agreed a fee of around €6m with PSV Eindhoven for Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung, according to the player’s agent.

The 24-year-old will reportedly fly to England today to undergo a medical and complete a four-year-deal which will earn him €3m a year.

Park was one of the outstanding performers in the South Korean squad which exceeded all expectations by reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2002.

He has reproduced those performances with PSV since his arrival in Europe and was a key figure in the Dutch side’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last term.

Park, capped 38 times by his country, scored for PSV in their 3-1 semi-final second-leg win over AC Milan, only for the Italian giants to go through on away goals.

He also scored the final goal when South Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 this month and made it to the World Cup finals for the sixth consecutive time.

“The Netherlands’ PSV Eindhoven and the English league club reached a deal early in the morning,” Park’s agency FS Corporation said in a press release.

“The transfer fee for Park was set at €6m,” quotes the Yonhap News website in Korea, who claim he will be handed the 21 jersey by United, the same number he wore during the last World Cup.

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

Park certainly fits that criteria and his energetic style is sure to make him a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford.

And while Red Devils’ officials will insist his capture is purely based on footballing merit, they are also aware of the player’s vast marketing potential.

Although Korea is not on the itinerary of United’s hectic pre-season tour to Asia next month, Park’s presence on the trip to Hong Kong, China and Japan is hardly likely to be of detriment to their marketing plans.