John Smith, Belfast: I acknowledge the point you are making but if their intention was not to create legal relations why did Utd send the fax/letter in the first place?

Alan Shore, Boston, USA

I fail to see how Liverpool or the Premier League will have any right to enforce a clause in a document between United and Heinze.

It is a basic principle of Contract Law that a 3rd party will have no rights to enforce a term of a basic english contract against one of the contracting parties.

Dave, Salford,

Manchester United is well within its rights to prevent Heinze from playing for Liverpool. Employers, like Manchester United, are well within their rights to have contract stipulations that preclude their employees from scampering off to offer their services to their enemies. Manchester is wisely permitting Heinze to move abroad, permitting Heinze to ply his trade elsewhere. If this ends in the court, then Manchester United can get an injunction against Heinze, preventing him from playing for Liverpool. As John SMith stated above, a mere fax stating Henze's market valuation will not stand in court. Unless, of course, Manchester's represetatives have signed an agreement releasing Heinze to the highest bidders. That does not seem to be the case here. However, I am wondering if a situation exists in England where a club can 'purchase' Heinze, and then 'sell' him off to Liverpool?

Jonathan, Costa Mesa, CA, USA

If Heinze's representatives were informed that United were not prepared to sell to a domestic rival, then they really haven't got a leg to stand on in trying to force them to sell his contract.

If, however, they were not informed, it changes the situation little. Whilst it may not be in good faith, a fax stating a fair market vaulation of the player cannot be construed as a binding document. To suggest otherwise is laughable.

John Smith, Belfast,

Steve W, how have you figured that United are 'two faced' and using 'bully boy tactics'?

With Heinze they have a player under contract and don't want to sell him to their domestic rivals - fair enough. With Tevez, they want the player but don't know who they have to buy him from (the Premier League and the player himself have very different opinions of that)!

So, not sure how you've reached those conclusions - although I suspect you, and many spouting opinions like yours, don't actually put that much thought into them.

You're correct about Liverpool not needing Heinze though. He's decent but they have better players for both left back and centre back positions. His best position would be on the left hand side of a back three when there is enough cover for him to dive in a bit. His style would certainly be best suited to La Liga ... I don't think Juve would be sensible in pursuing him.

Tim, Wales,

This is typical of Ferguson and United being totally two-faced. Here they are trying to use bully boy tactics to force through the deal for Tevez, but when the boot's on the other foot they winge and moan like little school kids.
I personally hope they keep him, he's past the pace of the premiership, Danny Alves skinned him in the Copa America final recently. Liverpool have ready made cover for Rise already in Insua who did an excellent job in Argentina's U20 world cup win this summer.

Steve W., Southport, Lancs