Fergie mulling over Tevez future

Manchester United seem reluctant to tie up the permanent transfer of Carlos Tevez, but is it the credit crunch or has Fergie set his sights on someone else in the summer?
The Argentinian frontman has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid this week, but with the La Liga giants closing in on Klaas Jan Huntelaar that rumour can be put to bed, but still Tevez's future in Manchester looks far from assured.
The 24-year-old has only made six starts for United in the Premier League this term, scoring once and he is firmly behind Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in the pecking order.
Tevez, who reportedly is growing more frustrated at his lack of first-team outings, will have cost United around £7million when his loan deal expires next summer, but Fergie will have to fork out another £20million-plus if he wants to secure Tevez's long-term future.
It's uncertain whether Fergie is stalling on the deal until the summer to see whoe else might become available or whether the purse strings have been tightened until the close season.
You can guarantee whether United win any silverware this season or not there will be a host of big names linked with a move to Old Trafford at the end of the campaign and former Red Giuseppe Rossi is already on Fergie's radar.
Ahead of the recent date with his current outfit Villarreal Sir Alex heaped praise on the striker who was sold in 2007 for around £6million and a return for the Italy international would not be out of the question with United having first refusal on the 21-year-old.
Tevez though at least will get another run-out, in what will be a virtual reserve side, in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.
Still, the football odds compilers have United chalked up as the tournament favourites and you can expect Tevez to be going full tilt to shoot down Blackburn and add to his other Carling Cup goal, which came from the penalty spot in the 1-0 win over QPR in the previous round.

By Phil Tomlinson