IT IS A case which has been threatening to get as bogged down as Jarndyce and Jarndyce, but a pivotal day is finally at hand in the Carlos Tevez affair. Representatives from the Premier League, the Football Association and the world governing body, Fifa, are meeting tomorrow to determine the means of resolving the dispute that has hit Manchester United’s attempt to sign the Argentinian. Up for discussion is a proposal to allow Tevez’s future to be decided at a fast-track hearing of the Dispute Resolution Chamber of Fifa. If this, or an alternative way of breaking the deadlock, cannot be agreed the businessman who owns Tevez’s “economic rights”, Kia Joorabchian, last night said he would take West Ham United, who hold Tevez’s registration, to the High Court.

Either way there will be forward movement in a saga which has dragged on for weeks. United believe they are free to sign Tevez because they have reached a deal to do so with Joorabchian and the companies he represents, Media Sports Investments (MSI) and Just Sports Inc (JSI). West Ham, who assured the Premier League in March they had ended all third-party agreements with MSI and JSI, say they have the sole right to determine Tevez’s playing future and that he will remain their player unless a significant transfer fee is paid. David Gill claimed earlier in the week that going to Fifa for arbitration had already been agreed, but it appears the United chief executive was being seriously premature.

“There will be a meeting between the Premier League, the FA and Fifa on Monday to discuss the Tevez situation,” said a spokesman for the Premier League. “One of the issues to be decided is whether to take the matter to Fifa for them to rule on the dispute between the parties.” Throwing the case on the mercy of the world governing body would be risky for the Premier League, who face a £50m lawsuit from Sheffield United should it be found that Joorabchian still controls Tevez.

Lawyers for MSI and JSI say negotiations to take Tevez to Old Trafford have progressed with “the knowledge and permission” of West Ham. Speaking in Macau, Gill maintained an air of high confidence that Tevez would soon be a United player “Carlos Tevez is a complicated matter,” he said. “It’s being worked on by all the parties involved and we hope for a resolution to it in the next few weeks.” How could the matter be resolved? “The resolution is that he joins Manchester United,” Gill said.

Further controversies surrounded Gabriel Heinze and Ji-Sung Park. Heinze has been told he will not be allowed a move to Liverpool. “Gaby’s on holiday after the Copa America but we expect him back in training in two weeks time,” said Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager. “I won’t need to discuss too many things with him because I think he knows that we know that his agents are the mechanism of what’s happening at the moment. We’re trying to steer a way through that minefield, because they have been quite difficult people.”

A small storm also raged around Park, who is currently recovering from a knee injury. Ferguson maintained the South Korean would be back in action by December or January but South Korea’s national coach, Pim Verbeek, said Park would need a longer lay-off. “From what I have heard his knee is not in a good condition for a 26-year-old football player,” said Verbeek. “To save his career it’s probably better for him to take more time to recover.”