Manchester United have signed PSV Eindhoven striker Ruud van Nistelrooy for #19million.

Dutch television announced the signing late on Thursday night, although United have so far made no comment.

United chairman Martin Edwards and financial director David Gill are believed to have travelled to Eindhoven to seal the deal, which is likely to see van Nistelrooy accept a seven-year contract.

The package for van Nistelrooy, 23, is expected to be announced at a press conference later on Friday morning.

P>PSV president Harry van Raay said: "Sir Alex Ferguson is a very lucky man. We hate to lose Ruud and I was determined we would not give him away like a gift to United.

"But the player had made his mind up he was going to play in Manchester. He will certainly be a star in the European Championships this summer," he told The Mirror.

The Dutchman is believed to have agreed terms of around #42,000 a week  around #8,000 a week less than United skipper Roy Keane.

Earlier this week van Nistelrooy, top scorer in the Dutch League last season with 31 goals, said: "I want to play in the Premiership, that is not a secret.

"Jaap Stam has told me a lot about Manchester United. It is good to have an impression of the teams, it is easier to make a choice."

Arsenal stars Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars had told him about the Gunners but he has decided to join United, who are on the verge of winning the Premiership.

Van Raay added: "Arsenal were the first to come to us but they kept asking us to name the player's price.

"We refused and told them to come to us but they never did. That left the way clear for United.

"They had an advantage all along because Jaap Stam was able to discuss the situation with Ruud.

"I didn't like that but what could I do about it? I feared all along I would lose him.

"In the end I could not hang on to him."

Van Nistelrooy is injured at the moment and will miss Holland's friendly against Scotland in Arnhem on Wednesday.

It is the start of yet another Ferguson revolution at Old Trafford following the 3-2 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Ferguson believes he has a top class striking partnership in Yorke and Andy Cole but he clearly feels he needs more firepower up front.

United striker Teddy Sheringham has still to make up his mind about his Old Trafford future. He has been offered a new one-year deal but is holding our for a second year.

With the best young striker in Europe, having signed for the scum, we'll have to set out sights a little lower. Other than Sergeii Rebrov, who is probably out of our price range, there aren't a lot of available strikers left. What are the chances thaen of us picking up some of our compeditors fringe players? Such as Solksjear or Sherringhm (heaven forbid), Camarra or Fowler, Or what about Torre Andre Flo, Nwanko Kanu. Or will we be setlling for Eidur Gudjohnson?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Answers

Rik, I agree, Sheringham NEVER. I rate Solksjear, he's far better than Cole - I can't understand why he never gets a start? I also rate that Gudjonnsen (sp.) from Bolton. Interesting to see what happens at L'pool when F****r regains fitness.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

I think it may be time to go back and get Andy Cole, now he's closer to being the finished article. He's a mobile, classy Premiership striker, would link well with Shearer. Guaranteed 20 goals a season

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

I can't agree about getting Cole back. I've always been of the opinion that if a player wants to leave, then let him go but when things don't go according to HIS plan or when he's getting near the end of his career and he wants to come back......tell him to get stuffed! When Cole signed for Newton Heath, he told anyone who would listen that he'd signed for "the biggest club in the world". Fine, if you say so but if you're stuck in the biggest reserve side in the world next season, tough.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

According to the ever unreliable teamtwaddle Camara is open to offers from Celtic and the Smogmeisters and the inbreds are also said to be following the situation.

Also Ferguson is not for sale but with regards to Solano, every player has his price!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2000

Macbeth writes :- >>>>>I think it may be time to go back and get Andy Cole, now he's closer to being the finished article.

Closer than when? He WAS the finished article when he was with us and has never scored so many since ...

As for SMB's comments, Cole never wanted to leave and that is well known. I have always thought that the Cole sale was KK's worst mistake (although it has few other mistakes to cointend with). I can't see Heath selling him.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

I confidently predict that as early as the Charidee Shield Ruud will miss a shot on goal and the delighted tabloids will lead with:

Van-MISS-telrooy

God, they're so predictable :-(

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

The Mancs are fairly sure that Cole will be off, partly because he's getting on, partly because he's nowhere near as good as Solksjaer and partly because Alex Ferguson doesn't like him. Go to: http://www.redissue.co.uk I wouldn't have Cole back. And let's face it, he wouldn't be Big Al's fave choice, would he? Bearing in mind that we need to buy the best part of a midfield this summer, I can't see us relly splashing out madly on one player.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

As far as Cole being the finished article is I believe he is a more all round player than when he left. He's gained some and lost some. He was a pperfect foil for Pedro and Beardsly made him. Cole needs a creative player to play off, hence the Yorke thing works. Shearer nneedes am another taget to play off, but i do wonder for how long we should be buying players to match with shearer, yes for now but we need to look ahead.

See you Strawb, around 1 - 1.30 for those going!!

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2000

Ye daft buggers, I wasn't being too serious in the 'closer to the finished article' comment.

If we signed Andy Cole he would have to be made to stand in the centre circle before his debut and lead the communal singing of "who the fuc* are Man Utd"

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2000

So what if he did have to sing "Who the f*ck are Man Utd?" Probably a genuine comment from him. He's a mercenary and would go where he gets paid the biggest buck. But I don;t tink we should have him. Apart from Pedro, nobody comes back and does it second time round.

I'd much rather have Solskjaer (despite his treatment of Rob Lee a coupla seasons ago). Please.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2000

All this "media talk" of Cole now being the finished article makes me smile.
At Pedro's side in a B&W shirt he was THE definitive striker - with perhaps as good a stike ratio as our present No.9.
He might be able to pass the ball rather better than he could when he was with us, and he still gets a goodly share of goals, but IMHO he is nowhere near as good or instinctive a finisher as he was with the Toon. He's playing in a team that creates a boat load of chances for their front men, and he misses way too many.
If AS had joined the manure instaed of us he would have been scoring 40 goals a season, no problem.
There's no way Cole's coming back to the Toon to play alongside AS, so just forget it gang.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000