New Delhi: Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic are officially Manchester United's first two signings of the January transfer window, but they haven't come cheap.
After months of speculation, snags, and vultures looming ominously as competition for the duo hotted up, Manchester United have now officially confirmed that Partizan Belgrade wonderkids Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic have officially joined the club.
A statement on the club's official website read: "United is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with Partizan Belgrade and the players for Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic to join the club.
"Tosic, 21, will sign with immediate effect and wear the no.14 shirt, while an agreement is in place for 17-year-old Ljajic to remain with Partizan for the rest of 2009.
"A press conference will be held next week," it continued, "once the necessary paperwork has been filed with the relevant football authorities."
Complications Solved
The two transfers were far from straight-forward however, as plans had been in place to lure the pair to Old Trafford for many months, and complications such as work permits, disagreements over personal terms, together with reported competition from Manchester City and Arsenal, meant that an eleventh hour twist may have taken place. These wrinkles though have since been ironed out.
Manchester United have not disclosed the fee, but Sky Sports believe the cost of both talents is £16.3 million.
According to separate reports, the Serbian signings will not be the last for United in the current window, as Leeds United youngster Fabien Delph is also on the club's radar, and could essentially follow in the footsteps of Alan Smith and Eric Cantona.
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