Ecuadorian ace Valencia cut short a break back in his homeland to make the trip and will have a medical at Old Trafford today while his contract details are sorted out.

Valencia has been holding out for a move to United for five months since Fergie first showed his hand and tried to buy him from Latics in the last window.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were given the brush-off by Valencia and his camp because he wants to make the trip along the M62 and join the champions as Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement.

It is a dream move for Valencia who can expect to quadruple his wages and sign a deal worth around £75,000-a-week.

Wigan have also got close to the money they wanted and are to hand the cash to new boss Roberto Martinez who will go on a signing blitz of his own. Valencia’s former club Villarreal will, however, take around £3 million from a sell-on clause.

Ferguson has waited for Valencia’s price to be right. He did not want to over-pay for him and the move leaves the United chief with around £85 million for other captures.

United are still on the trail of Spanish strike star David Villa who admitted that he is ‘flattered that four of the world’s top teams are after him’ despite his preference for a move to Real Madrid.

Ferguson hopes to exploit the local antagonism between Valencia and Real that is blocking Villa’s first-choice destination. United will make their bid once the selling price is established.