http://www.teamtalk.com/football/sto...610946,00.html
Quote:
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.
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seriously this is getting out of hand. i don't understand why it has to be liverpool. it just is beyond my comprehension
the Executive can say what he will, but it does not necessarily rescind his contract. come on now. i really will flip my lid if the Kop starts chanting argentina. i really will