Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian has issued High Court proceedings against West Ham in a bid to resolve the thorny issue of the player's ownership.

The saga has dogged United's entire pre-season trip to the Far East, with the latest twist emerging last night when Joorabchian announced he would take the case to the High Court just hours after FIFA's recommendation, backed by the FA and Premier League, for the issue to be sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Having completed all negotiations with Tevez, United can now do little other than stand back and wait for the dispute to be resolved, knowing if any judgement came down on West Ham's side, it would almost certainly scupper any hope they have of securing the 23-year-old for the first half of the campaign.

All along, United's analysis of the situation is that Joorabchian is the man they should be dealing with.

Contrary to the Premier League's stated position, there is no chance of the Old Trafford club paying any money to West Ham for Tevez.

But Gill is confident the matter will eventually be resolved to United's satisfaction.

"I have not been involved in this and it is not Manchester United's decision," Gill told PA Sport.

"Clearly, it is a dispute between Tevez, the owners and West Ham.

"Hopefully, that can be solved relatively quickly and he can come to join us. I would have thought they have taken this decision in the belief that he can join us."

CAS were happy to arbitrate on the Tevez issue but said they are now not expecting to be contacted by any of the parties following Joorabchian's decision.

CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb also confirmed that, if the matter is pursued through the civil courts, his organisation would not consider any further involvement.

He said: "Once civil proceedings are under way, we would no longer consider arbitrating in the matter."