STAM TO SIGN WITH LAZIO ON MONDAY

Lazio, who opened their Serie A campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Piacenza on Sunday, approached United about the availability of the Dutch defender at the Champions League draw on Thursday and their offer was accepted by the Old Trafford club.

Stam revealed on Sunday that he was set to hold talks with the Roman club, and it would appear that he has accepted the personal terms offered to him.

Lazio general manager Massimo Cragnotti, son of president Sergio, said on Sunday: "Jaap Stam is a Lazio player.

"We have called a press conference for 12 o'clock (11am BST) tomorrow to present the player.

"I completed the transfer with the help of Lazio transfer negotiator Nello Governonato who was in Amsterdam to complete the deal with Manchester United and the player.

"Jaap Stam has signed with us for four years."

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that it was a "footballing decision" to sell the giant Dutch defender and said he hoped to bring in a defender before next Sunday's Champions League transfer deadline.

"It was my decision and I decided that we needed to bring someone in," Ferguson said.

"With respect to Jaap and the job he has done here, it would have been hard to make him sit on the bench.

"With the money Lazio are prepared to pay it was a great opportunity for me to bring in someone else.

"It was absolutely a footballing decision, you must believe me on that. It had nothing to do with his autobiography. I would never let anything like that affect my decision.

"An offer came in at the same time as we were looking to sign another player."

There is speculation that United have already come to an agreement with Internazionale to buy Laurent Blanc, who was an unused substitute for the Neroazurri on Sunday.