Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has no backup plan should a deal for West Ham striker Carlos Tevez fall over.

"I am confident Carlos Tevez will sign and I am happy to wait until clearance comes along," he said.

"If it become obvious the situation wasn't going to turn our way we would have to reconsider our plans. But I have nothing as a fall-back position at this moment in time."

There has been a suggestion from FIFA that, as yet, no paperwork has been received from any source with regard to the Tevez affair.

With the time factor so important given United would have to wait until January to sign Tevez should a deal not be pushed through by the end of next month, that is something of a surprise, especially as club lawyer Maurice Watkins remained in Manchester rather than embarking on the club's present Far East tour in order to try to resolve the matter.

However, chief executive David Gill moved quickly to calm fears nothing was being done. "It is a complicated matter being worked on by all the parties involved and we hope for a positive resolution in the course of the next few weeks," he said.

"We are in discussions with the FA and FIFA on the matter. It is moving to the appropriate body."