Manchester United have signed striker Mame Biram Diouf from Molde.

The 21-year-old Senegal-born player is due to attend a medical next week and will be loaned back to Molde until January.

"We've been looking at him for two years," Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said. "We weren't intending on signing anyone else after last week - we feel we have a full squad - but the situation accelerated to a point where other clubs started to make bids, so we had to decide whether we acted. He'll be the last person we sign."

Ferguson has revealed that he expects Owen Hargreaves to return to action in September. The England midfielder has not featured since the start of last season following two operations to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since before his move from Bayern Munich two years ago.

Hargreaves was ruled out of the club's tour to the Far East as he continues his rehabilitation, although it seems he will join up with his team-mates when they head to Munich for the Audi Cup at the end of the month.

"We are happy with his rehabilitation and, while he won't be ready to play in Munich, he will train," Ferguson said.