Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson cannot guarantee that Carlos Tevez will be a permanent signing at Old Trafford, thus leaving the long-term future of the Argentina forward in uncertainty.

United are trying to clinch the services of the 24-year-old former Corinthians and West Ham United ace on a permanent basis but it seems that the reported £32 million transfer fee is proving to be a stumbling block.

Tevez had moved to United on a two-year loan deal last summer and impressed in his first season forming a great understanding with fellow striker Wayne Rooney. However, with the arrival of club record-signing Dimitar Berbatov in 2008 summer, Tevez’s first-team place is no longer certain.

Tevez had maintained that he wants to stay with the Premiership giants, but speculation has suggested that he may want to leave to get regular football and also the wage demands by the player have been said to be adding to the disagreement. And Ferguson has now said that United will try to keep him, but if that doesn’t happen, the life continues to go on.

“We will just work our way through it and that’s all we can do,” Ferguson told the Daily Star Sunday.

“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, we will just have to move on. It’s unfortunate, but that’s life.

“Carlos wants to stay. He’s happy here. I think he’s actually said that to the players.”

Spanish giants Real Madrid, Premiership powerhouse Arsenal and moneybags Manchester City are being linked with a move for Tevez.