Fergie admits impasse in Tevez talks

Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United have yet to broker a deal with Carlos Tevez's representatives over a permanent contract for the Argentinian striker.

The former West Ham star, whose two-year loan at United expires in June 2009, has been linked with a January move to Real Madrid following knee surgery that will rule Ruud van Nistelrooy out until next season.

Tevez has made it clear to United that he wants to stay at Old Trafford and wrap up a long-term deal, despite his recent inability to claim a starting spot in Ferguson's team.

United are due to pay Tevez's owners, MSI, 22 million pounds to seal a permanent move, on top of two payments of five million pounds to secure the player's signing on loan for this season and last.

But despite the speculation surrounding Tevez, Ferguson, whose team face Stoke at Old Trafford on Saturday, admits both parties are still keen to thrash out a contract for the player.

He said: “There is no change regarding Carlos, but negotiations like this are always protracted and that's the situation we find ourselves in with Carlos's agent.

“David Gill (United chief executive) has been talking to him quite a lot, but there is nothing to report.”

Doubts over whether Tevez has a long-term future at Old Trafford have grown in the wake of Dimitar Berbatov's August arrival at the club.

Since then it has become apparent that Ferguson wants to build his attacking line-up around the Bulgarian with Wayne Rooney currently his preferred partner.