One Argentinian may want to join Manchester United as badly as another wishes to leave, but the futures of Carlos Tévez and Gabriel Heinze are likely to remain in the hands of the Premier League for a while longer as the two most interminable transfer sagas of the summer continue to test the patience of everybody involved.

United had hoped that Tévez would be cleared to make his long-awaited debut for the club in one of two friendly matches away against either Dunfermline Athletic or Glentoran this evening.

But with the Premier League unlikely officially to ratify his controversial transfer from West Ham United before then, Manchester United supporters are almost certain to have to wait until Sunday, when the champions begin their title defence at home to Reading, to get their first glimpse of the Argentina forward.

Even Eggert Magnússon, the West Ham chairman, expressed sympathy yesterday that Tévez had been “caught in the middle” of a mess that was not of his making.

As exasperating as that situation may be, though, Tévez might spare a thought for Heinze, his countryman, whose own transfer ordeal will drag on into next week. Heinze returned to training with United on Monday, but with Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, making it clear during a 30-minute meeting that he will not sanction the player’s proposed £6.8 million move to Liverpool, the Argentina defender has asked a League arbitration panel to settle the dispute.

The three-man panel, which will comprise of a judge or lawyer, a League representative and a football administrator, will sit on Monday to rule whether Heinze should be allowed to join Liverpool. Heinze, who has two years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, claims that he has a signed letter from United stating that he can leave for an agreed fee. United, who want to sell the defender to a foreign club, with Juventus and Real Madrid among those interested, argue that the letter is “meaningless”.

In the event that Heinze or United are not satisfied with the verdict, it is thought likely that any appeal would be fast-tracked so that it could be heard that same week in an attempt to bring as swift a resolution to the matter as possible. Under League rules, players are entitled to call for a hearing to settle contract disputes. Liverpool will have no input.

In the meantime, Heinze has vowed to carry on behaving “like a professional”, although, regardless of a minor injury that has ruled him out of tonight’s matches, the defender is unlikely to play for United again. “I’ve fulfilled my duties by returning for training and I will now carry on like a professional,” Heinze, who will not play any part against Dunfermline or Glentoran said. “I will keep on coming to training and see what happens. I have a muscle injury in my leg but it is only minor and will not keep me out for long.”

Heinze has made it clear, however, that he believes his position at United is no longer tenable, and hinted that he may be open to a move to a club other than Liverpool if an offer is forthcoming. “I don’t want to spend my time at the club just waiting and not playing as I don’t think that is in the best interests of the club or myself,” he said. “I’ve spoken with the coach and I have insisted that my wish is to leave if a big offer appears on the table. Today the only such offer is from Liverpool and it is this that is causing the problem.

“Earlier in the summer I received a promise from United that I could leave if the deal was good for both parties. All I want now is a swift solution to this saga.”