United to probe Heinze approach
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United are investigating
the possibility Liverpool made an illegal approach for Gabriel
Heinze.
The row over Heinze's proposed move to Liverpool is threatening to
spill over into open warfare after United have flatly refused to do
business with Liverpool, even though Rafael Benitez has matched
United's £6.8million asking price for the 29-year-old.
Although Heinze's agent claims to be in receipt of a letter which
effectively gives the full-back permission to leave Old Trafford,
United chief executive David Gill does not believe it over-rides
the player's contract, which still has two years to run.
In any case, Gill insists he verbally informed Heinze's agent that
United would not be prepared to do business with any of their main
Premier League rivals, specifically Liverpool, Arsenal and
Chelsea.
Currently on a short break following his participation at the Copa
America, Heinze is said to be considering a legal challenge to
Gill's view.
Yet the United stance only backs up Ferguson's previously stated
opinion that Heinze had no chance of joining the Champions League
finalists, a position that has only hardened over the past few
days, with the United boss adding a further twist to the
saga.
"Gabriel Heinze will not be joining Liverpool," he said immediately
after his side's 6-0 pre-season win over Chinese League outfit
Shenzhen in Macau.
"We are examining some of the statements coming from his agent and
when contact was first made with Liverpool.
"We are not happy with the agent's conduct in the matter and we are
examining that as well, but it will take a couple of days before we
have anything more to say."
By coincidence Liverpool are only 40 miles away from United, having
landed in Hong Kong yesterday ahead of the bi-annual Premier League
Asia Cup competition.
Speaking before Ferguson dropped his bombshell, Benitez confirmed
he was keen for Heinze to become the first player to head down the
East Lancs Road from United to Liverpool since Phil Chisnall in
1964.
"We made the offer and they rejected it. Now the lawyers are
working on it," said the Reds boss.
"We have to wait. We are still trying to push the deal through
because he is a good player and a player we like."
It means United are heading towards the start of the defence of
their Premier League title with two transfer wrangles needing to be
sorted out.
Ferguson is still hopeful of having Carlos Tevez on board for the
season's opening game against Reading on August 12.
