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One intriguing detail (albeit a multi-billion dollar detail) accompanying Vodafone’s abortive work on a possible bid for its American partner, Verizon Communications, is that Vodafone has been pressing Verizon Wireless to expand in the US by acquisition while simultaneously mulling its own transatlantic takeover plan.

Vodafone on Monday responded to a report here on its $160bn ambition to own the whole of Verizon with a flat statement that it is not pursuing such a bid, despite detailed scenario planning. But financiers with a close knowledge of the lead up to Monday’s statement say it follows growing frustration over the fact that Verizon Wireless will not follow Vodafone’s guiding strategic hand.

In particular, sources have told FT Alphaville that Vodafone has repeatedly pressed Wireless to enter the bidding for Alltel, the fifth largest US mobile operator, which in May recommended a $27.5bn takeover by TPG Capital and Goldman Sachs’ private equity interests.

That deal is expected to go to a shareholder vote in early September, leaving a window of opportunity for a counter bid. Numerous reports have suggested Alltel executives sought to generate an auction prior to agreeing PE terms, but were frustrated by the fact that Verizon chief executive Ivan Seidenberg viewed the asking price as too rich.

Sources say that for Vodafone, forcing the Alltel situation was considered a primary objective when discussing how the British group might treat its option to exercise a share buyback worth up to $10bn on Verizon Wireless and also whether to trigger a tax and valuation-related distribution worth a further $9bn or more.

Under fire from rebel shareholders, Vodafone has discussed whether it might use the option and tax distribution as leverage on Verizon — perhaps offering to waive both in return for a clear and timely Wireless dividend policy that could presented to Vodafone’s own shareholders.

Financiers say the company discussed at what point a “friendly offer” might be turned into a “threat” against Verizon - though executives and their advisers were mindful of the fact that with Wireless accounting for about a third of Vodafone’s overall value, a public dispute with Verizon could prove very damaging. There was also a worry that the matter could easily end up in court.

This version of a possible Verizon/Alltel merger contrasts starkly with the view of various sector analysts which FT Alphaville spoke to on Monday. These all reported that in their dealings with Verizon they had been left with the opinion that there had never been such strategic differences with Vodafone and that in the specific case of a potential bid for Alltel there was complete agreement between the two partners.

Even so, financiers in London say Vodafone has looked at how a move to pump more money into Verizon Wireless — backing an Alltel deal - would go down with is shareholders.

As far as Verizon is concerned, these financiers say, Vodafone has argued that moving now on Alltel could be painted as a sensible defensive move — avoiding a future auction for the business in the future when Goldman and TPG inevitably sell, when rivals like AT&T and Sprint are likely to be in a much better position to compete.