Manchester United remain totally confident Carlos Tevez will sign a permanent deal with the Old Trafford club.

Tevez signed a two-year loan last summer but only after a painstaking review of the Argentina star's ownership rights.

It has always been the intention Tevez would ultimately commit his long-term future to United, with Sir Alex Ferguson adding his weight to comments from chief executive David Gill this summer that negotiations with the player's long-time advisor Kia Joorabchian would be concluded before the end of the year.

Although he has found himself left out of Ferguson's starting line-up on a regular basis since the arrival of £30.75million man Dimitar Berbatov, Tevez has been keen to extend his stay with the Red Devils.

He was very quick to reject an overture from Manchester City earlier this month and seemed settled at Old Trafford.

United thought so too, which was why they were surprised to read speculation Tevez was unhappy at talks being dragged out amid suggestions of a delay from United's end.

But the Glazer family have insisted funds are in place even though the credit crunch has had a massive effect in the United States, with United's sponsors AIG among the companies caught in the economic downtown, which has effectively forced them to be nationalised.

And a United spokesman has insisted talks will continue in a relaxed atmosphere, with all sides sure an agreement will be reached.

"David Gill told the papers in South Africa in July that we would hope to conclude a deal with Carlos before the new year," said a spokesman.

"That is still our aim. The clocks haven't even gone back yet, so to talk of delays is nonsense.

"Both the club and Carlos are relaxed about the situation."

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