Fergie stands firm on Heinze

The row over Gabriel Heinze's proposed move to Liverpool is threatening to spill over into open warfare after Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Manchester United are investigating the possibility their north-west rivals made an illegal approach for the Argentina defender.

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.

Ferguson said: "Gabriel Heinze will not be joining Liverpool. We are examining some of the statements coming from his agent and when contact was first made with Liverpool."

He added: "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."

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.