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LONDON - MANCHESTER United have agreed to sign Partizan Belgrade midfield duo Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic, the Premier League champions said on Friday.
Tosic, 21 and a Serbia international, will sign with immediate effect while an agreement is in place for 17-year-old Ljajic to remain with Partizan for the rest of 2009, United said on their website.
'I could not imagine a better New Year's present and I am at a loss for words to describe how delighted I am,' Tosic told Serbian state television.
'I have to keep working hard, prove that I am good enough for United and earn my place in the club,' said Tosic, who has made 12 appearances for Serbia and won the league and cup double with Partizan last season.
Ljajic, who had a 10-day trial with United in October, said he was content to remain with Partizan for the time being.
'I am happy to spend another year with Partizan because the club has done so much for me and I hope to win some silverware this season in return,' Ljajic said.
'But it's a great honour to be signed by United, especially at the age of 17.'
No transfer fees were given but British media had speculated that United would pay a combined fee of about 16 million pounds (S$34 million).
Tosic, who can play on either flank, is unlikely to make his debut for United in the next few weeks with his move to United coming in the middle of Serbia's winter break.
'He's not played since Dec 10 and he'll need time to adjust and we'll give him that,' United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
'He's a wide left player and we like wide players at this club. We've been watching him for over a year and hopefully he will do well.
'The other boy is 17 but he's a very good player. When we bring in young players we always think we can develop them.'
As to any further spending, Ferguson said: 'That's the end of the transfer business for Manchester United this season.' -- REUTERS
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