Emerton poised to replace Barmby

Nick Barmby is on the brink of completing his £2.75m move to Leeds as Australian star Brett Emerton issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to Liverpool.

Barmby today completed a day of medicals at Elland Road while his likely new team-mates were preparing for their friendly at Rangers.

Leeds expect to complete the deal – Terry Venables’ first signing as Elland Road boss – in the morning.

And that will leave Liverpool boss Houllier considering his next move, with Emerton and Damien Duff on his wanted list.

But with Duff seemingly priced out of the market by Blackburn, Houllier – who has also completed the signing of Senegal midfielder Salif Diao this week – may turn to Feyenoord star Emerton.

The 23-year-old will almost certainly refuse to allow himself to be cup tied next week and sit out the Dutch club’s Champions League qualifier with Fenerbahce.

If Emerton faces the Turks he will not be able to play in any UEFA club competition for any other club this season, which will severely limit his options and certainly end Liverpool’s interest.

Leeds’ interest in the play seemingly ended when they have signed Barmby.

Emerton said: “On August 13 Feyenoord play the first Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce. If I play in that match, I can’t play in Europe for any other team.

“That means I will be less attractive for other teams and that is something I have to consider.

“I know that clubs are interested, but as long as these clubs don’t get serious I remain a Feyenoord player.

“The speculation about me moving to England has been around for six months now. I just take it as it comes. I am only 23, there is plenty of time for a transfer. This doesn’t mean that when a club comes along I will not think about it.

“But again, I will only leave Feyenoord for a great club, one I think suits me.”

It is unlikely Houllier will move before Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal in Cardiff, where Diao will figure if Liverpool can obtain international clearance in time.

Houllier is determined to keep Liverpool’s hands on the Shield, having won it last August by beating Manchester United.

Houllier said: “Sunday is very important to me. This match is more than just a friendly. It represents the start of the season, it’s like a final and we are the holders.

“I consider this to be a very important game, it is one I want to win, and I believe the players do, too.”

Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard are expected to figure at the Millennium Stadium, with Liverpool’s only injury problem being Jari Litmanen who has a knee problem.

And the Finnish striker, tipped to leave Anfield, is unlikely to be moving now.

He will not be fit until the transfer window closes at the end of August and that will rule out any move until January.

Litmanen turned down a move back to Ajax in the summer because they could not match his wage demands.

He said: “I really don’t understand why they waited so long if they really wanted me.

“For six months lots of things were said and while I was preparing for a new season at Liverpool, I got an official offer at the last moment.

“When I looked at the offer Ajax made it very easy for me. The offer was closer to the wages of the best-paid second team player than a first-team player.”

Now Litmanan wants to help Liverpool’s title chase this season.

“We have a minimum of 25 players who have all proven to be able to play at this level. We are one of the favourites for the title and I want to be there when that happens,” he said.

“I’m playing at the club that I followed intensely ever since I was a little boy. That means a lot to me.”