ENGLAND striker Teddy Sheringham yesterday joined Manchester United in a deal worth around £3.5 million. Sheringham asked for a transfer from Tottenham earlier this month while on England duty in France.

At the time, Sheringham announced he had an open mind about who he wanted to play for and a move to Italy appeared to be on the cards.

But following speculation that Everton's new boss Howard Kendall would move in, United boss Alex Ferguson swooped to snap up the Spurs star.

With the departure of Frenchman Eric Cantona, Sheringham (31) would seem to be an ideal replacement.

He has been particularly effective for England in the linking role favoured by Cantona for United and could now line up alongside either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Andy Cole.

Sheringham joined Tottenham for £2 million in 1992 after a short spell at Nottingham Forest who he joined from Millwall.

Spurs boss Gerry Francis said: "We tried very hard to keep Teddy at Tottenham and offered him a four year deal. Unfortunately, that was not accepted and he decided to ask for a transfer.

The arrival of Sheringham has confirmed United's odds for a hat trick of Premiership titles. Ladbrokes rate them at 11-10 for the forthcoming season, the shortest price they have been for the last five seasons. Latest odds: 11-10 Man. Utd, 7-2 Newcastle, 9-2 Liverpool, Arsenal, 12-1 Chelsea, 20-1 Aston Villa, 50-1 Everton, Tottenham, 66-1 Blackburn, 80-1, Leeds, 100-1 Bar.