Antonio Valencia will sign for Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

Sportsmail understands that Wigan are resigned to losing their Ecuador winger to the champions for a fee in excess of £5million.

The same agent who engineered Wilson Palacios's £12m move from the JJB Stadium to Tottenham in January will act as intermediary in the Valencia deal.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring the progress of the 23-year-old wide player for some time, having expressed an interest in the former Villarreal star last summer, according to the player's agent Diego Herrera.

Last summer, when United allegedly came knocking, Latics boss Steve Bruce admitted the lustre of the Red Devils would be too much to resist for any of his young players.

Bruce said: 'Come on, we have to be sensible about this. If Man United come knocking at the door, how the hell can you refuse them?

'I'm aware you can't deny somebody like a Manchester United or a Liverpool or a Tottenham.

'This club never wanted to sell (Pascal) Chimbonda, but players want to go and you can understand that, so we have to be realistic as well.'

- Daily Mail