FootyMad is carrying the following report:

"Out of favour Liverpool forward Jari Litmanen is being targetted by Newcastle United.

The Finnish international has insisted publically that he is willing to fight for his place at Anfield, but has admitted privately that he is frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities as reported by the Reds website, Koptalk, this morning.

Liverpool would be willing to offload him, to ease their wage bill, and talks have allegedly already taken place between the two parties, although a deal seems unlikely before the end of the season.

It has also been alleged that Litmanen was involved in a training ground bust-up which has hampered his chances at Anfield.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Answers

There's also talk of an Anelka/Wiltord swap deal. Seems like the ManU journos got some overtime in over the weekend.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

No chance hes nowhere near good enough. jus hang on and players will WANT to play for us if we get into the champions league. Just check out what Emertons agent is saying...

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Litmanen woudl be brilliant signing, but we'd need someone pacier than Shearer to be on the end of it all :0) He may not start every game but we'd have wonderful creative options if he was here

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Litmanen could be the new Peter Beardsley. I'd love it if we signed him!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Reports on the net suggest S'ton are lining up a bid for Luax2. Apparently he is brassed off by not getting a single PL start this season.

Can't say I really blame him, but wouldn't lose any sleep if he went. In fact, I'd be pleasantly surprised if we got back what we paid for him.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Litmanen not good enough Kennyboy? Anyone who knows what he has won with Ajax and seen him play for Liverpool until recently would probably not say that. He is a VERY VERY GOOD player, and in a team that can play with him, he can be EXTRAORDINARY. There's still a few good years left in him, and I wouldn't mind him signing for the Toon.

A note to conclude: Litmanen missed a penalty for Liverpool in early season. That was the first time he missed such an opportunity in any competition for nearly five years as THE designated penalty taker. If AS is a professional, so is JL.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

Well if you think a bloke who cant get into the 1st squad at liverpool, is good enough for us then your not as optimistic as i am .

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

There was a time, Kennyboy, when one Alan Shearer couldn't get into the Toon 1st squad.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

Litmanen is good enough (in fact I think he's terrific), but I'd rather we continued signing young players than 30 somethings.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2002

True, Knee, so true. Litmanen could be a Bosman, though. I think he signed an 18 month contract with Liverpool. I don't know what they are paying him at Pool, but I think he got ca. £50k per week with Barcelona.

I'd love to see him play for the Toon, but being a Finn and idolising the bloke, I'd hate to see him crocked or marginalised.

But wasn't that a canny flick he did against England defense in the qualifiers, before putting in a cross from the right? Magic it was.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Get a lad like jansen he wants to play for the toon and has great pace.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Just read this article in teamtwaddle.
Newcastle, Ipswich, Aston Villa and West Ham have been alerted by confirmation that Dirk Kuyt will leave Dutch outfit FC Utrecht in the summer. Representatives from the four Premiership clubs were among the scouts watching the highly-rated striker play for Holland Under-21s in their match against David Platt's counterparts earlier this month, and his agent Piet Buter confirms his client will quit his current club in the close season. He told TEAMtalk: "There has been a lot of interest shown in Dirk, a lot of clubs watched him play in the Under-21 international with England, but no-one has approached us yet." Kuyt's current contract is not due to expire until 2004, however he does have a get-out clause inserted in the deal which will allow him to leave for a pre-arranged transfer fee. Buter added: "Dirk has a fixed fee in his contract. We expect him to leave for one of the top clubs in Holland, or move to England, but it will not be until the summer."

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Ia feeling we should keep buying British.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

* I have a feeling we should keep buying British.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Litmanen can't get in the Liverpool side cos they play a one dimensional game that doesn't allow free spirit. He's a fantastic player and probably just the sort of player we need if we have to have a bit more guile for the CL. Using Shearer as a battering ram in Europe may produce a few shouts of "Shearer, Shearer" but I'm not sure he'll win us many games.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

With regard to Swifts comment on buying English, any thoughts on Crewe's Dean Ashton. Knowing Dario's history of nurturing some excelent players this kid looked excellent last night. 18yrs old and took on the Everton defence with no second thoughts. Won a few headers and looked confident and skilful with the ball at his feet he must be 6ft already with the possibility of growing another inch or two he was very strong on the ball. He's also got canny pace.

Well worth looking at.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

What fee is he likey to cost? Could we get him before Friday to mittigate against Bellamy's injury??

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Ashton would be the Shearer replacement, although he looks more Mark Hateley like to me

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Now that you got me going on Litmanen, have a look (Kennyboy!) at the minute-to-minute match report on last nights CL match from guardian unlimited. Smicer was subbed for Jari on 72, and..

77: Galatasaray are trying to slow the pace. Owen and Litmanen combine brilliantly but Heskey cannot quite get on the end of the Finn's first-time through ball.

78: Goal Liverpool have equalised and have silenced the Instanbul crowd. Litmanen with his back to goal in a crowded area lays it off perfectly for Heskey who positively roofs it home with very little backlift from five yards out. The Liverpool bench goes ballistic. It's Heskey's first Champions League goal and what a crucial one it could prove to be.

80: The question has to be asked, why don't Liverpool play Litmanen all the time? His every touch is quality and his introduction has changed the game.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Bringing on fresh legs after 70 mins against a tired defence will almost allways cause problems , I just think hes too old.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

he's younger than Shearer and Speed

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Yes but i wouldnt buy Shearer or Speed NOW!!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002