However, that might not put off Alex Ferguson, who has been told that there is cash available for one last signing before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Anelka is also wanted by Portsmouth, West Ham and Newcastle, but Manchester United could yet trump them all.

With Wayne Rooney ruled out for another two months with a hairline fracture in his left foot, Ferguson will decide this week on whether to make a move, reported The People.

He had identified Anelka as the striker he would want if United failed to land Carlos Tevez, and realises that playing Ryan Giggs as a makeshift striker is not the best option to make up for the absence of Rooney.

Anelka wants to go to next summer's Euro 2008 Finals as one of France's top strikers - but he fears Bolton may be in for a season of struggle.

His goal gave Bolton the lead against Portsmouth on Saturday, but they still ended up on the wrong side of a 1-3 scoreline to begin the season with three straight losses.

Meanwhile, United's want- away defender Gabriel Heinze is being offered to Real Madrid and Barcelona at a discounted fee in a last-ditch attempt to prevent him from moving to Liverpool.

A Premier League arbitration panel meets today to rule on the Argentinian's future.

But, in a new twist to an increasingly malevolent saga, it has emerged that Spain's two leading clubs have been asked if they would like to sign the player for less than the £6.8 million United named as his 'release price' in a letter to Heinze's agent, reported The Mirror.

The development may be a further signal of how desperate United are not to sell him to rivals Liverpool.

Heinze says the letter gives him permission to join any club willing to pay £6.8 million, as Liverpool are.

United insist it was always made clear to him that he would not be allowed to move to one of their main Premier League rivals.

Still, it is thought to be unlikely that Real or Barcelona will offer a way out of the mess.

Despite the opportunity to acquire a top international at a reduced price, Real have other transfer priorities.

The Spanish champions are still pursuing Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Daniel Alves of Sevilla, who would each cost in the region of £20 million.

Barcelona are believed to be happy with their options at left-back, having recently signed Eric Abidal.

Heinze has given no sign he will back down over his wish to become the first player to move directly from United to Liverpool since Phil Chisnall in 1964.

It is believed that the defender is prepared to take his case to Fifa should the Premier League rule against him.

At the centre of the dispute is the letter, which was given to Heinze's agent, Roberto Rodriguez, and signed by United's chief executive David Gill.

United told Rodriguez that their valuation of the player was £6.8 million and that he could negotiate with interested clubs.

A measure of the saga's bitter nature is that it is believed a tape recording was made of a conversation between Gill and Rodriguez and it could be used as evidence in the event the case does end up in court.