The FA is expected to be asked to act as arbitrator to oversee Carlos Tévez’s move to Manchester United. The transfer has reached an impasse because of the determination of the Premier League that West Ham United should receive most of the proceeds from his move.

However, Manchester United had expected to pay the money to Kia Joorabchian and the companies that had brought Tévez to England, Media Sports Investments and Just Sports Inc. The companies own the economic rights of Tévez, although his registration is owned by West Ham. The three parties believe they can reach a deal.

But there is a growing belief that the League has been intervening to protect its position. The League is concerned that if it is seen that West Ham do not receive the money from the transfer, it will appear that the third-party agreement between the club and Joorabchian for Tévez was not ripped up. West Ham were required to terminate that agreement after being found guilty of breaching league rules in his transfer. That would then provide Sheffield United, who were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship in West Ham’s place, with fresh ammunition to pursue their case against the League for not establishing whether the agreement was terminated.

What the Tévez deal has demonstrated in part is that the Glazer family have shown a long-term commitment to Manchester United, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager. Ferguson believes that the projected £58 million that the Americans have spent on new players this summer proves that commitment. Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson have been lured to Old Trafford, while Ferguson has also made permanent the loan signing of Tomasz Kuszczak from West Brom-wich Albion.

“I’ve said since they took over the club that they have been nothing but supportive,” Ferguson said, “and they have demonstrated that support by giving a lot of money this summer and I appreciate it because I think it gives us a really strong squad next season.”

A spokesman for the family told The Times: “We have said all along that money has been available for the manager to spend and now he has chosen to really take the plunge and spend a lot of money on four great players.”