New Derby boss Nigel Clough will be thrown in at the deep end when his side face Man Utd in a Carling Cup semi-final (1st-leg) this Wednesday.

Uncertainty over the future of Carlos Tevez future is growing after his agent refused to rule out a move away from Manchester United.

Speculation regarding the striker’s future has intensified recently with United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, failing to secure a permanent deal for the Argentinian.

At present he remains on loan from agent Kia Joorabchian’s investment company Media Sports Investments (MSI) and it has been reported that a fee of £32 million will secure a permanent move to Old Trafford.

Tevez is now being linked with a move to Real Madrid and with United seemingly unwilling to pay the demanded fee for a player who has struggled to hold down a regular place in the team, his future at the club seems in jeopardy.

Joorabchian refused to confirm whether Tevez would be at Old Trafford beyond the end of the current season.

“It’s very hard to predict,” Joorabchian told BBC Radio Five Live. “It’s football. Things change by the minute, by the hour. It’s not a no. You never know.

“All Carlos said in the interview was that it was not true, he has not rejected an offer from Manchester United, he has not made crazy demands. He just wanted the fans and the people to know that we haven’t had any contract talks.

“That’s the bottom line. He wanted to say ‘How could I reject something if I’ve never spoken about it’?

“Carlos has never made an issue or a problem. He doesn’t have a problem at all with Sir Alex (Ferguson). He’s never had a fight with Sir Alex or any arguments.

“All of these things are being created around a simple story that Carlos wanted to put straight.

“He’s saying ‘I’m happy to continue doing what I do best. If I get a new contract and everything works out, fantastic. If it doesn’t, I’ll go to another club’.”

Ferguson has always said there is “no rush” and that he had “no idea” when he issue would be resolved, but the longer the matter remains unresolved the more likely it would seem that Tevez’s future lies away from Old Trafford.

Joorabchian admitted he was unsure if his client would remain at the club.

“It’s hard to know,” he said. “From my experience I’d say that anything can happen.”

New Derby boss Nigel Clough will be thrown in at the deep end when his side face Man Utd in a Carling Cup semi-final (1st-leg) this Wednesday.