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RAFA BENITEZ is planning a shock swoop for disgruntled Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.

The Argentinean World Cup star is known to be unhappy at Old Trafford and is believed to be available for around £5million.

Liverpool have been monitoring the situation for some time with Benitez an admirer of the versatile full-back.

Heinze enjoyed an impressive start to his Premiership career after United signed him from Paris Saint-Germain for £6.9m in the summer of 2004.

But he has been gradually pushed out of the side since the arrival of Patrice Evra at the club 18 months ago and is known to be keen on a move away from Old Trafford.

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The 29-year-old is currently on duty with Argentina at the Copa America tournament, alongside Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano andfellow Kop target Carlos Tevez.

Meanwhile, Benitez is set to continue strengthening the junior ranks of his squad with another teenage signing.

CSKA Sofia’s 18-year-old midfielder Mihail Alexandrov is about to become the third promising youngster snapped up by the Reds this week.

Following the arrival of 19-year-old goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov from Levski Sofia and 18-year-old full-back from Athletic Bilbao, Mikel San Jose, Liverpool are close to signing another Bulgarian youngster.

Alexandrov, who made two appearances for CSKA during last season’s runners-up campaign in Bulgaria, has passed a medical and is expected to sign a contract soon.

Reds boss Benitez said: “They are players for the future who will hopefully settle in and develop.”

Hungarian strike duo Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon, meanwhile, enjoyed their first training sessions at Melwood this week.

Nemeth, an explosive, pacy striker who scored 12 goals in 20 appearances for MTK Budapest last season, has been described as a “Hungarian Filippo Inzaghi” by Budapest journalist Andras Gall, who travelled with them to Merseyside.

“He plays on the shoulder of defenders and is a very good prospect,” Gall said.

“Simon is a year younger at 17 but is more powerful. They found the training sessions quicker and stronger than they are used to but they enjoyed it and will settle down quickly.

“Rafa spoke to them both on Thursday to make sure they both understand what was being said to them, and they’re looking forward to working with the reserve team and coach Gary Ablett.”

Academy manager John Owens has revealed that a further two new overseas players will be joining the Reds’ Under-18 squad for the 2007/08 season.

German striker Marvin Pourie from Borussia Dortmund and Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic from Helsinborgs will arrive on Merseyside in time for the start of pre-season training at the Kirkby complex on July 16.

Djibril Cisse, meanwhile, set to be eclipsed as the Reds’ record signing by Fernando Torres, is hoping to complete a permanent move to Marseille over the weekend.