Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is facing legal action from an Irish agent.
The Daily Mail says Given, outstanding in both Carling Cup semi-finals against United, is being sued by a well-known Irish agent claiming unpaid commission on the goalkeeper's £6million transfer from Newcastle a year ago.
Papers have been lodged with the High Court by agency Platinum One alleging that their FIFA-licensed founder, Fintan Drury, is owed £250,000 for his part in setting up the deal with City.
Drury alleges he made an oral arrangement with Given at a meeting at the Republic of Ireland international team's hotel base in Portmarnock in November 2008 that he would be paid a commission if he located a suitable new club from the player's short list.
And Drury, a former director of Anglo Irish Bank who helped take the Ryder Cup to Ireland in 2006, claims he made the initial introduction with City and outlined the requirement of an £80,000-a-week, five-and-a-half-year contract for Given. He was then kept out of the concluding transfer discussions by the goalkeeper and his lawyer Michael Kennedy.
Kennedy, who has represented Given for a decade, said: "The claim will be vigorously defended."
Football agency regulations state that contracts with players must be in writing.