Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez are set to raise the stakes over their public row with a red-hot transfer battle. The Sun says things will only going get worse as a result of Fergie's attempts to scupper Liverpool's move for Anderson.

Kop boss Benitez has been on the trail of the Fluminense centre-half for months and had his scouts make a personal check just before Christmas.

But Fergie got wind of Anfield interest and wants Manchester United to beat them to him.

The ex-Brazilian youth international has only six months of his contract to run and Fluminense would prefer to sell him for £3million now rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.

With Daniel Agger's future up in the air and Sami Hyypia 35, Liverpool want Anderson as back-up for Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel.

But Ferguson is also after defensive cover and has been scouring the South American market following the success of Brazilian teenager Rafael Da Silva this season.