The transfer will cost the English Premiership runners-up around 15 million pounds (28 million dollars, 22 million euros).

United boss Alex Ferguson has been chasing the defensive-minded midfielder ever since the end of last season and has seen previous bids for him knocked back.

Carrick, who turns 25 on Friday, has yet to agree personal terms at Old Trafford but will double his wages by penning a 50,000-pounds-a-week deal, The Sun reported.

The Daily Mirror said Manchester United would pay around 12 million pounds straight away with the rest dependent on success-related clauses, and Carrick was expected to agree a four-year contract.

The Daily Star said the deal was yet to be formalised for the player Ferguson has targeted to be his long-term replacement for the combative former United captain Roy Keane, who quit the club in December.

Carrick, born in the Newcastle suburb of Wallsend, was a trainee at West Ham United and moved to Spurs in a 2.75-million-pound deal in August 2004.

He has seven caps, though was only used in the 2006 World Cup during England's 1-0 second round win over Ecuador, as manager Sven-Goran Eriksson preferred Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves in the holding role.