Vidic looks bound for United

Spartak Moscow chief executive Sergei Shavlo is resigned to losing defender Nemanja Vidic – and admits Manchester United are favourites to sign him.

United and Spartak reportedly held talks on Monday in London but failed to agree a fee for the 24-year-old Serbia & Montenegro international.

Shavlo told Russian newspaper Sport-Express: “We were trying to retain Vidic in the squad but he has told me straight that he will leave Spartak.

“The only question is to which club will he move? Initially he was going to join Fiorentina but now he is inclined to accept the Manchester United offer.

“We continue to have talks concerning the transfer fee.”