Last summer, United investigated the possibility of landing Tevez from West Ham.

The complicated third party ownership issue transformed the business into a saga with the Hammers demanding a fee as they argued they owned his registration.

The mess was finally sorted with his part-owners Media Sports Investment - which was run at the time by Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian - agreeing to pay West Ham £2m to release him.

It allowed United to move in with a two-year loan deal struck with Joorabchian that is reported to have cost the Reds £10m. Both United and Tevez want the Old Trafford move to be permanent and that could cost the club a further £10m.

But the Premier League tightened its rules on third party ownership at its AGM last month. No Premier League club can now sign up a player who is owned, partly or wholly, by a third party.

United have been looking into an answer but according to reports Tevez is getting impatient that the Reds have not come to the table with a deal and that if nothing is done by the end of 2008 he will have to begin looking for alternatives.

Tevez said on the eve of the Champions League final he hoped his transfer situation would be solved. "I would certainly love to extend my contract," the 24-year-old said ahead of the Moscow showpiece with Chelsea.

"I would go and sign right now if the opportunity was there."
Last November Sir Alex Ferguson was sure United would be able to end Tevez's loan situation at Old Trafford.

"There is no question about his long-term future here.

Our chief executive David Gill has spoken to his agent and told him we are very happy with him," Ferguson said at the time.

"The fee is in place. I won't tell you what it is but it is still cheap. I want to make this happen."

Tevez scored 19 goals for United in his debut campaign.

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