Man Utd boss Ferguson to confirm Obertan signing today

Manchester United will announce the signing of Bordeaux winger Gabriel Obertan today.

The Times says United will announce the signing of Obertan from Bordeaux for £3 million today.

Obertan, 20, will put pen to paper on a four-year contract after undergoing a medical yesterday with a view to becoming United’s third signing of the summer, following Antonio Valencia, another winger, recruited from Wigan Athletic for £15.25 million, and Michael Owen, a free transfer from Newcastle United.

Obertan’s arrival would take the number of recognised wingers aged 23 or under at Ferguson’s disposal to five, all of whom are unproven at the highest level, while Park Ji Sung, at 28, has yet to develop into a player capable of regular match-winning turns.

Eighty thousand fans attended Ronaldo’s presentation at the Bernabéu this week, but it is doubtful that many people have even heard of Obertan.

Ferguson’s relationship with Laurent Blanc, the Bordeaux coach and former United defender, is thought to have been pivotal in ensuring that Obertan moved to Old Trafford instead of Arsenal or either Milan club. But Blanc loaned the player to Lorient, where he scored once in 15 appearances, for the second half of last season because he had few plans to use him during Bordeaux’s push for the French league championship.