Come on in and join the club! Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Manchester United’s deal to sign Wilfried Zaha and instantly loan him back to Crystal Palace is facing a Football League probe.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has agreed a £15million swoop for the England starlet, with the clubs also proposing he is returned to Selhurst Park until the summer.

However, the Football League want to see the paperwork on the transfer and check their rule-book as there has been a tightening up on these kind of moves.

Ferguson is waiting on a ruling, but Old Trafford insiders have told the Mirror that he is quite happy to keep Zaha with United if there is a hurdle.

Palace supremo Steve Parish has assured the South London club's fans that Zaha will play for them for the rest of their promotion campaign.

But that may not be possible.

Now the clubs will work on a way to get round the problem on Wednesday - but United are keen to have Zaha on board and may send Palace another player or two instead.

Boss Ian Holloway is anxiously waiting on the outcome as he wants the money to spend and would also need to know whether Zaha is with him or gone.

The rule in question is Football League Section 6, paragraph 46.4, with the ‘executive’ needing to approve the switch and return.