Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Fri 07 Jul 2007United still await offer for SmithSOCCER:Manchester United are still waiting to receive a formal offer for unsettled striker Alan Smith.Although the wrangle over Carlos Tevez' proposed move to Old Trafford is heading for the High Court, United are working on the assumption the Argentina striker will join them before the August 31st transfer deadline.Tevez' eventual arrival would cast a huge question mark over Smith's future, especially as Alex Ferguson admitted the limited number of games he would be able to offer the striker is likely to be a major problem. Middlesbrough are among a number of clubs to make an informal inquiry for Smith. In fact, contact with United by a number of parties has been frequent, the latest arriving in the form of a text to the phone of chief executive David Gill in China this morning.