Gomes gets United call

Manchester United have made a late £7 million offer to sign Portuguese international forward Nuno Gomes from Fiorentina.

United are trying to sign the former Benfica star ahead of tonight's Champions League deadline.

Fiorentina have had talks to sell Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes to Olympique Lyon as the French club try to replace Steve Marlet ahead of tonight's Champions League player registration deadline.

Lyon sold Marlet to Fulham earlier this week for £11.5 million and have now offered the ailing Italian club £5.5 million for Gomes.

But Fiorentina are paying Gomes nearly £2 million a year on his contract with nearly three years left to run on the deal and the French club cannot match those wages.

United can though and their move for the 25 year old who was Portugal's top scorer at Euro 2000 last summer could signal another tactical change from manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

United have not started the new season well although they are undefeated in three Premiership matches and Ferguson has changed the side's formation to pair Paul Scholes in attack with Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The signing of Gomes would allow Scholes to drop back into midfield behind two striker in his preferred position.

Gomes is on international duty with the Portuguese World Cup squad in Spain ahead of their tie in Barcelona against Andorra tomorrow night