London - Former Scotland and Rangers star Andy Goram is set to join Manchester United from Motherwell in a 100 000 pounds (about R1-million) deal to solve the English champions' goalkeeping crisis.
United have both French international Fabien Barthez and Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw out injured with a Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich fast approaching.
The 36-year-old Goram's Motherwell contract expires in the summer but the United deal is for three months only.
Motherwell director of football Pat Nevin revealed that he would revert to being a Fir Park player - for one day only - before becoming a free agent.
That is believed to be because United had been given permission by Uefa to sign a keeper on loan, not to buy one.
Nevin hailed the deal as a superb piece of "lateral thinking" by Old Trafford supremo Sir Alex Ferguson.
He said: "The deal is agreed and he is on his way down just now. Now it is a question of getting the paperwork done."
United had approached Nevin earlier in the day about a straight loan deal but that was rebuffed.
But the door was left open for a cash bid and that was exactly what happened, with Ferguson seeing Goram as his No 1 stop-gap option.
Nevin said: "We came to an agreement. It's a perfectly sensible deal if you think about it.
"United have been very clever - it's a clever piece of lateral thinking. They needed a goalkeeper short-term and someone who has been there before and will be able to cope with the big atmosphere.
"They have got the right man and it is fantastic move for him as well. There was no way we could stand in his way and all three parties are happy now." - Sapa-AFP