Gunners 'spew' over Harry loss

Leeds, who may be trying to shift blame for a botched transfer, eventually agreed to a cut-price £5m fee after being told the player would exercise his right to hold out for a Bosman free transfer next season.

McKenzie claimed he could have brokered a £7m deal with Liverpool if the agent had not been involved. He said: "We have made £3m and £2m has gone to Bernie Mandic. But the thing that interests me most is where the other £2m has gone which, in my view, was available within Liverpool's treasure chest to buy the player.

"I don't know where it is. I think I know, and you might come to your own beliefs about it. What I do know is that it is not in the public arena."

Mandic hit back by releasing documentation he claims was signed by McKenzie on 25 June and which proves the Leeds chairman was comfortable with an offer of £5m for the player and with a payment of £2m to Mandic's company, Max Sports - subject to the approval of the Leeds plc board.

The agent said: "There's a strong chance Leeds will be asked to send a 'please explain' letter because I thought we were all going to be civilised about this.

"I'm astounded. Documentation is documentation and we'll be sticking to the facts - and the simple fact is that Leeds are receiving £3m more than they would have if Harry had gone on a Bosman."

McKenzie claimed that Leeds had received better offers from Manchester United and Arsenal, with two even coming from Old Trafford on the day the deal with Liverpool was done.

Kewell admitted the row between McKenzie and Mandic had "taken the shine off " the move.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, who was in London yesterday to receive his OBE alongside Wenger, brushed aside the controversy to hail the Australian as a "fantastic signing".

Kewell was today being unveiled alongside new signings Steve Finnan, Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle before the squad travel to Switzerland for their pre-season training camp.