By Chris O'Brien
January 10 2006

Manchester United have completed the signing of left-back Patrice Evra for a fee of £5million. The 24-year-old has been monitored by Sir Alex Ferguson for some time, and would appear a strong acquisition with Gabriel Heinze still struggling on the sidelines.

Sir Alex Ferguson continues to bolster United's defensive ranks with the signing of Patrice Evra now complete. Fergie is reported to have splashed out £5million on the Monaco star who is expected to make the left-back position his own as the season runs its course.

"We have been monitoring him all season and it is fantastic he is joining us. He is a good age and he is still developing as a player, which is always exciting." said Sir Alex, after clinching the player's signature amid interest from Liverpool and Inter Milan.

The 24-year-old has signed a 3 and a half year deal at Old Trafford and could make his United debut as soon as Wednesday when the Red Devils host Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Evra will fill the void left in the team since Gabriel Heinze injury left the Argentinean sidelined for the rest of the season. The Frenchman will be hopeful that a move to Lancashire will alert his national coach, Raymond Domenech, who has ignored the defender since he picked up the last of his five senior cap over three years ago.

The highly-rated Evra joins follows Nemanja Vidic through the Old Trafford entrance door with United's defence lacking its usual convictions this term. The arrivals have raised concerns over the future of duo Mikael Silvestre and John O'Shea as the Red Devils look to freshen up their squad to compete with Chelsea's domestic dominance.