Gabriel Heinze has been urged to stay away from Manchester United’s opening Barclays Premier League match against Reading on Sunday as he continues to agitate for a hugely controversial transfer to Liverpool. Sir Alex Ferguson could yet insist that Heinze attends the match at Old Trafford, but the Argentina defender has been advised by his agent not to do so for fear of inflaming a delicate situation.

The Premier League board will meet next week to discuss the case of Heinze, who claims that he should be allowed to join Liverpool for a fee of £6.8 million, stated as his sale price in a letter sent to his agent by David Gill, the United chief executive, at the start of the summer. United acknowledge the letter’s existence but Gill has described it as “meaningless”, having separately told the player’s agent, Roberto Rodriguez, that the club would not sell to Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal.

Heinze, though, is determined to become the first senior player to move between the two great North West rivals since Phil Chisnall joined Liverpool in 1964. By making clear to Ferguson his desire to leave and accusing the club of breaking promises on Monday, Heinze appeared to signal the end of his Old Trafford career.

United have attempted to drum up interest from clubs in Italy and Spain, but Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, said yesterday that he thought Heinze would be moving to Mersey- side . “I am confident in the outcome,” BenÍtez said. “We are not looking at any other left back.”

Liverpool have succeeded in making Heinze feel wanted at a time when he is surplus to Ferguson’s requirements, having lost his place to Patrice Evra last season, and also have the advantage of working closely with the Argentina defender’s lawyers. Andrew Green, a London-based barrister, is acting for Heinze and Rodriguez, on the advice of one of Liverpool’s principal legal advisers, Richard Green.

Rodriguez has advised Heinze to consider staying away for Sunday’s match. He has no prospect of appearing, anyway. He returned to preseason training late, after his involvement for Argentina in the Copa America, and also has a thigh injury. He may yet attend if Ferguson demands he does, but United have no strict policy on injured players attending matches.

One of his Argentina teammates, Carlos Tévez, will attend but is highly unlikely to be involved even if the protracted saga of his transfer from West Ham United is completed by today’s 5pm registration deadline. The Premier League ratified his departure from West Ham a week ago and his move to Manchester on a two-year contract is likely to be confirmed today or on Monday.

“Sometimes the administration side of things takes longer than you hope,” Carlos Queiroz, the United assistant manager, said after Tévez was not cleared for friendlies against Dunferm-line Athletic and Glentoran. “Carlos is still a bit light after being involved in Copa America. He had about 15 days without training but he’ll get there. He is working hard so hopefully he can play his part next week.”

Sven-Göran Eriksson faces a race against time to sign a goalkeeper before tonight’s registration deadline for the start of the new Barclays Premier League season, or risk turning to the inexperienced Joe Hart or Kasper Schmeichel for his first competitive match as Manchester City manager away to West Ham United tomorrow. A thumb fracture has ruled out Andreas Isaksson for six weeks and City hope to sign Marco Amelia, the 25-year-old Italy goalkeeper, from Livorno for £5 million, but he would have to receive international clearance to face West Ham.