Hargreaves: Not for sale says Uli Hoeness (LaurenceGriffiths/Allsport)

Arsene Wenger met Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer and general manager Uli Hoeness on February 2, when he attended their Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen.

But Wenger, who made his move during a Champions League scouting trip, has been rebuffed by Bayern's determination to hang on to the 21-year-old central midfielder, capped twice by Sven Goran Eriksson.

Hoeness has denied any official approach from Arsenal and warned: 'It is useless for Arsenal to try. We will never sell Owen Hargreaves.'

But Hargreaves' representatives insist that Wenger has raised the issue and refuses to take No for an answer.

They made it clear that, if Arsenal cannot sign him this summer, the club are determined to secure the player's signature for 2004, when his contract in Germany expires.

The youngster, valued at £15 million, will play at Old Traf-ford against Manchester United on Wednesday in the Champions League.

He knows that Wenger's interest will force Bayern to offer a significant increase in his £1m a-year salary. The Gunners' manager initially made a bid last year but was also rebuffed on that occasion.