Jari Litmanen trained with his Liverpool team-mates yesterday after completing a free transfer move from Barcelona, and within minutes his new manager Gerard Houllier stressed the Finn's arrival will not be the catalyst which brings about Robbie Fowler's departure.
Houllier emphasised the modern game's need for four strikers, but it is understood Fowler (25), will only have a role to play for as long as Liverpool remain competitive this season. They are still contesting four competitions, all of which Litmanen is eligible to play in, but Chelsea remain interested in the England forward and have already had a £12 million sterling bid rejected. Fowler was involved in an early-morning fracas in Liverpool's city centre earlier this week. It was the second such incident involving the striker in the past two years.
Litmanen, who played 14 games for Barcelona in one and a half seasons, scoring three times, was hindered by injuries there and had his contract terminated 18 months early. He has agreed a £55,000-a-week deal which will keep him at Anfield until 2003.
Teddy Sheringham scored on his Manchester United comeback against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground last night. Sheringham, United's leading scorer with 15 goals this season, netted their second before coming off just after the hour mark in the 4-4 draw. Jaap Stam, Andy Cole and Mark Bosnich also made their returns from injury. Stam was outstanding in defence in what was his first match back after four months out recovering from an Achilles operation. He went off at half-time along with Cole, who had showed some nice touches on his return following his Achilles operation. Unfortunately the night was not such a success for Bosnich, who was back after surgery on his hernia, and he was beaten four times while his kicking remains as erratic as ever. Cole set up Luke Chadwick for United's opening goal on 16 minutes before Sheringham side-footed home their second in the 40th minute.
Aston Villa fans have accused the club of "being run like a corner shop" after shares plummeted yesterday. Villa shares were trading at just £2.67.5 each after being floated at £11 in the summer of 1997 and the club's value has dropped from £125 million to about £30 million.
Ipswich manager George Burley has rejected a bid for striker David Johnson from Nottingham Forest. Forest boss David Platt had been keen to secure the services of the £2.5 million-rated 24-year-old, who scored 22 goals last season, in a bid to bolster the first division side's promotion hopes.
Leeds captain Lucas Radebe will today finally sign his new deal with the club - and earn a money-spinning testimonial clash against his native South Africa. Radebe is to sign a contract which will run until the summer of 2004, which will see him serve 10 years at the club.
Czech midfielder and former Manchester United player Karel Poborsky will join Italy's Lazio from Portuguese club Benfica for $2.5 million, news agency CTK quoted the player's agent Pavel Paska as saying yesterday.
The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was yesterday confirmed as the venue for this season's FA Cup final and Worthington Cup final. The FA and Football League have agreed three-year deals with officials at the stadium.
