Heinze row threatens to give United new headache

With the Carlos Tevez affair rumbling on the last thing Manchester United need is another drawn-out transfer saga, but it looks like they have one on their hands in the form of Gabriel Heinze's proposed move to Liverpool.

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has had a bid for United's full-back turned down although Heinze claims to have a letter signed by the United chief executive, David Gill, promising he can leave the club if they receive a bid in excess of £6m - a figure Benitez is thought to have topped. Benitez has now handed the matter to the club's legal team while United are investigating the possibility that their rivals made an illegal approach for the player.

Gill does not believe the letter overrides the player's contract, which still has two years to run. Gill also 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.

"We made the offer and they rejected it and the lawyers are working on it," said Benitez. "We have to wait. We're still trying to push the deal through. He's a player we like."

"Gabriel Heinze will not be joining Liverpool," Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, reiterated after his side's 6-0 pre-season win over Chinese League side 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."

Heinze's representatives are considering legal action to push through the deal - the first between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall moved to Anfield in 1964.

While Liverpool fight to sign the left-back, their right-back Steve Finnan has agreed the terms of a new three-year contract. The Republic of Ireland defender, 31, is expected to sign when the club return home from their current Asian tour.

The Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes could miss the start of the season after the club confirmed he would undergo an exploratory knee operation which could keep him out for up to a month.

Scholes picked up a knock to his knee during his side's pre-season tour to Asia and headed home to Manchester five days early.

"Paul fell on his knee in the last game," Ferguson said. "We've sent him home for arthroscopy to see what kind of damage there is. We don't think it's serious but it could keep him out for three weeks or a month."

The 6-0 win saw a debut goal from summer signing Nani as well as strikes from Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.