BELGRADE // The Serbia winger Zoran Tosic expects to join Manchester United in January now that he has been granted a British work permit thanks to a personal appeal by Sir Alex Ferguson. "I was told that about 10 days ago that Manchester had sent a request for my work permit which is now granted," Tosic said. "I know nothing more, or what will be the next steps, but I suppose that I have a few games left for Partizan."
No details of the transfer fee were given for Tosic, but the local Belgrade media said it hovers around ?3.5 million (Dh16.2m). The United manager Ferguson made a personal plea at a work permit hearing last week in Sheffield, saying that Tosic, a Serbia teammate of Nemanja Vidic, is a player of outstanding potential who will challenge for a first-team place immediately. Tosic, who has made 12 international appearances and impressed at the Beijing Olympics, can play on either flank. He is a free-kick specialist and has been nicknamed "Bambi" by the Serbian fans because of his slight build.
At United, Tosic is expected to compete for a winger position with Ryan Giggs, 35, who has been contemplating retirement, as well as Nani and Park Ji-Sung who are also vying for a place in the Red Devils' starting XI. Another Serbian talent, Adem Ljajic, a 17-year-old dubbed the "Serbian Kaka" is also thought to be in talks with United. The Partizan Belgrade midfielder, considered the biggest Serbian talent, had been training at Old Trafford this summer. *AP
