At the latest, Ferguson's pursuit of Tevez will be resolved when his representative Kia Joorabchian meets West Ham in the High Court on August 22, although a conclusion could be reached out of court in the next couple of days.

Although Ferguson expects Tevez to line up in a United shirt sooner rather than later he admits the protracted deal has gone on too long.

"I'm confident we'll get the player and I think (United chief executive) David Gill is also confident," he said. "It has been dragging on and it can be frustrating particularly with the deadline at the end of August.

"I don't let it annoy me or worry me because we are confident the been banned for five months and ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 euros, while Frosinone's Massimo Margiotta (four months) and Thomas Manfredini of Atalanta (three months) have also been punished as part of an investigation launched by the City of Udine.