The admission by United chairman Peter Kenyon in Sunday's Mail On Sunday came after a week of denials from coach Alex Ferguson, on tour with the Premiership champions in the United States, that Veron could be on the move to Stamford Bridge.

Kenyon told the paper: "There has now been an official offer from Chelsea for Veron and it is under review. We should be delivering a reply to the bid by Wednesday."

The significance of the Wednesday deadline lies in the fact that Chelsea will want to tie up any deal before Thursday's Champions League cut-off point.

According to Kenyon Veron has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, who reportedly tabled a formal offer last week of around 11m pounds.

A second higher offer has since been made. United are believed to value the player at around 15m pounds.

"It would appear they (Veron's advisors and Chelsea) have reached agreements on personal terms," Kenyon said.

"But they have not spoken to Seba at this stage."

Veron arrived at Old Trafford from Lazio in 2001 on a 28.1 million pound transfer, and starred in United's 4-1 defeat of Juventus in New York on Thursday.

After watching Veron collect the man of the match award Ferguson said: "People keep seeing him on this tour and people still keep saying he is going. Unless he is going to be whisked from right under my nose they are wrong.

"Seba is a marvellous player. He has wonderful imagination, he always wants the ball and has a great engine. He was outstanding tonight."

Ferguson was dismissive of Chelsea's chances of lifting the Premiership title this season.

"Maybe you can buy the title with the purchase of good players and sound judgment, but I don't think they will do it right away," he told the Mail On Sunday.

Chelsea have gone on a 36.9m pound (41.9m dollars) spending spree since Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the west London club for 86m euros (97.5m dollars).

Their four new recruits are Southampton's Wayne Bridge (7m pounds), Blackburn Rover's Irish winger Damien Duff (17m pounds), Real Madrid's Cameroon midfielder Geremi (6.9m pounds) and West Ham's teenage full-back Glen Johnson (6m pounds).