United win £5m race for Spurs' Swedish target

Manchester United transfer news: Rasmus Elm to sign in June - ends Tottenham Hotspur chase

28 Dec 2011

Manchester United have won the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfield target Rasmus Elm, according to reports in Italy.

Calcio Mercato is reporting that the Red Devils have agreed a deal to bring the Swedish international to the club in the summer, claims talkSPORT, with just a medical to be completed for the move to officially occur.

The English radio station goes on to claim thatManchester United have been tracking the 23-year-old for over a year now, whilst the player's agent has today refused to deny that a deal has been agreed in principle.

Elm too has spoken, and admits it's flattering to be linked with clubs in England. With a contract set to expire in 2013, his time with AZ Alkmaar does appear to be coming to an end.

"It's flattering, but I have not heard any more about it. Patrick Mork takes care of that. However, it is quite clear that I will finish the season out with AZ. But no more decisions are taken on that from my side right now," Elm told Aftonbladet.

The midfielder moved to the Eredivisie from Kalmar FF in 2009, and has attracted interest from a handful of clubs across Europe with his industrious performances in the position.

But, after showing a reluctance to stay-on at the AFAS Stadion, manager Gertjan Verbeek appears to have decided to cash-in on the player with a Manchester United deal.

Neither club has confirmed the deal officially, but his signature would represent a coup for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson should the claims be true.

It's a blow for Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp however, with the north London outfit also thought to have been tracking the player.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is no stranger to rolling the transfer dice when opportunities arise, with the likes of Chris Samba and Fernando Llorente linked with moves to White Hart Lane as recently as today.

However, their pursuit of Elm appears to have fallen short, and the Tottenham Hotspur boss will have to look elsewhere as he looks to strengthen in the position alongside Scott Parker, Sandro and Luka Modric.