UK Roundup

Liverpool's Litmanen in talks with Galatasaray

LIVERPOOL (Reuters) -- Liverpool striker Jari Litmanen could be set to join Turkish club Galatasaray, the English Premier League side said Tuesday.

Galatasaray have been given permission to open talks with the Finnish international who has struggled to claim a regular starting place since arriving at Anfield in January 2001.

"We can confirm that we have been approached by Galatasaray and have given them permission to speak with Jari," Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton told the club's official Web site.

Litmanen has made just 12 league starts since joining on a free transfer from Barcelona, and it has been reported that he is unhappy at the lack of first team football.

Southampton completes Niemi signing

SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) -- Finnish international goalkeeper Antti Niemi has joined English Premier League club Southampton for 2 million pounds (US$3.05 million).

Niemi, 30, arrived Tuesday from Scottish Premier League side Hearts and is set to make his debut against Chelsea on Wednesday.

He has been a long-term target for manager Gordon Strachan, who tried to sign Niemi to Coventry five years ago.

"He is the right age and price and has a good character and he will increase competition in that area. That has worked well for us in the past," Strachan told the club's official Web site.

Niemi has 41 caps for his country, and spent two years at Glasgow Rangers before signing for Hearts in 1999.

Keane can leave Leeds if offer right, says Venables

LEEDS, England (Reuters) -- Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane can leave Elland Road if the club receives a suitable offer, boss Terry Venables said on Tuesday.

Unsettled Keane has started United's first two premier league games on the bench, coming on to score against Manchester City on the opening day of the season.

"If there's any interest I will look at it and if he doesn't want to be here, I would feel the same," Venables said.

"If someone wants to come to me and make something possible on the club's terms, it's possible it could go through."

Keane, who turned down a move to Sunderland before the start of the season, said at the weekend he was unhappy at not playing regular first-team football.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Yorkshire club from Inter Milan for 13 million pounds in December 2000, is one of five front-line strikers at Leeds and with Robbie Fowler and Michael Bridges heading back towards full fitness his chances of a starting place could recede further.

Venables believes the closing of the transfer window could have forced Keane's hand in making his frustrations public so early in the season, although the Leeds manager feels the August 31 deadline also makes a deal less likely.

"He had a great World Cup and comes back and wants to show. I didn't really expect it after two games, but then again maybe normally he wouldn't have said it if there wasn't only a week left to a transfer deadline," added Venables.

"But it's running out of time now and I would think, at this stage, nothing will happen."

Manchester United shares suffer pre-match nerves

LONDON (Reuters) -- Shares in Manchester United hovered near six-year lows on Tuesday as the world's richest club prepared for a crucial Champions League game.

Manchester United play Hungarian side Zalaegerszeg later on Tuesday after losing the first leg of the qualifying round tie 1-0. Failure to win on aggregate would mean the Old Trafford club missed the lucrative group stage of Europe's premier club tournament.

Analysts said the outcome of Tuesday's game would determine the near-term direction of shares in the club, which last month bought England defender Rio Ferdinand for a British record transfer fee of 30 million pounds ($46 million).

At 1355 GMT, United's shares were two pence higher at 100p. The stock last fell below 100p in June 1996.

"Being able to play in the Champions League is a huge thing financially. If they lose today they won't lose money, but they'll surely lose the opportunity to make potential riches," said an analyst at a U.S. brokerage. Analysts estimate that failure to progress to the Champions League could cost the club about 20 million pounds ($30.5 million), based on revenue it has earned in the past six years in the competition.

"Much of it is high-margin income, incremental stuff that goes straight to the bottom line. Being able to play the Champions League does potentially hold a very material impact to Man United's profits," one analyst said.

Giggs: One mistake could cost United dear

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has admitted one slip-up in Tuesday's Champions league qualifying match against Zalaegerszegi could cost the club dear.

The English premier league side go into the game at Old Trafford trailing the Hungarian champions 1-0, and Giggs says his team must be at their best if they are to progress.

"Everyone is aware that one lapse can cost us dearly. Our concentration has got to be at its best because if they get an away goal it could be so crucial," Giggs was quoted as saying in British newspapers on Tuesday.

"The Champions League is where this club should be and where the players want to be. We don't even think about not being in it.

"The defeat hurt us, and it was a real shock to the system, especially after we had dominated the game.

"It left us with an empty feeling in our stomachs, but as soon as the game finished we couldn't wait for the second leg to come to make amends."

Escude still discussing move to Manchester United

RENNES, France (AP) -- Rennes defender Julien Escude said Tuesday he still hopes to play for Manchester United, despite an approaching Aug. 31 transfer deadline.

Rennes representatives met Monday night with Manchester United's Peter Kenyon to discuss a deal, but no agreement was struck. The French side said the British team failed to make a new offer.

Escude, recovering from a knee injury suffered while walking his dog, said he has not given up hope.

"We'll see. My agents are working for me," Escude said. "For now, I'm taking care of my injury to get back more quickly."

News reports have said that United was offering 2 million pounds (US$3.1 million) for the French former under-21 international, while Rennes was holding out for more than twice that amount.

Ballet-loving Japanese star settled in to London life

LONDON (AP) -- Junichi Inamoto is relishing a second chance to prove himself in the Premier League and said Tuesday his troubled year at Arsenal helped him settle into new club Fulham.

The 22-year-old star Japanese midfielder has become a favorite at Fulham since joining on loan in July, scoring in the Intertoto Cup, and appearing as a substitute in the Cottagers' first two Premier League games.

Last season, Inamoto made four appearances for Arsenal-- none in the league.

His strong World Cup display helped him transfer to rival London club Fulham, where Inamoto feels he has a lot to prove.

"Most people see me as the player who did well at the World Cup but I want to establish myself at Fulham," Inamoto told The Evening Standard newspaper Tuesday. "I would love to stay here for more than a year."

Inamoto has settled into London life -- albeit a more cultured one than many soccer players. He loves going to the ballet, clothes shopping and eating out.

The only downside is his English and Inamoto still needs a translator.

"I had no friends in England before I arrived here but now I have quite a few and I really like that," he said. "I don't go back to Japan other than for international matches because I don't think I need to. Football is what I am focused on but the quality of life here is pretty similar to home.

"There is quite a big Japanese community here so it makes it easier to buy food and that sort of thing."

Arsenal had decided to let Inamoto go before the World Cup, but the midfielder said the season wasn't entirely a waste.

"It was a frustrating year at Arsenal and I was not happy that I was not playing," Inamoto said.

"But at the same time I gained experience from being at a big club. I think the year I spent there helped me settle in quickly at Fulham and I want to make last year as motivation for establishing myself as a player here too."

Inamoto's next goal is to get full fitness and start a Premier League game.

"Being able to play in the first Premier League game of the season made me really happy and means I have achieved my first target," he said.

"I was not conscious of becoming the first Japanese to do that when it happened but I guess I have a big responsibility to carry on from here and show that players from Japan can make it in the Premiership."

Duff to sign new Blackburn contract

BLACKBURN, England (AP) -- Blackburn winger Damien Duff is expected to sign a new long-term contract at Ewood Park this week.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness said Tuesday he wanted Duff to sign a new deal despite the Irish World Cup star having two years left on his contract.

"We have an agreement with Damien. He will be signing a new contract either before the game [against Liverpool on Wednesday] or immediately after it," manager Graeme Souness said.

Meanwhile, defender Hakan Unsal is returning to his former club Galatasaray after a short spell with Blackburn.

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.