Souness admits Yakubu interest

Graeme Souness has confirmed his interest in Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu as a potential replacement for Alan Shearer.

The Newcastle captain intends to retire at the end of the season, and Souness is considering a bid for Portsmouth's 22-year-old Nigerian striker.

Souness told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Yakubu is one of several players who do interest me.

"It's no secret that we have to replace the top man at the end of the season - and whoever comes in is going to have a monumental task to fill one of his boots, never mind both.

"Whether that's Yakubu, or whoever comes in, it's a difficult job.

"I could talk all day about Alan Shearer. He's going to be impossible to replace. He has been the best English centre-forward that has ever played football for his country - even as a Scotsman I can say that."

Souness does not hold out much hope of persuading Shearer to change his mind - but he will keep trying.

He added: "We have to fear the worst - but we'll stay at him.

"When he looks in a good mood I'll be bending his ear, and when he looks in a bad mood I'm not going to speak to him!"

Meanwhile, Souness travelled to Germany yesterday to watch Bayern Munich's central defender Sammy Kuffour - the Ghana international defender who has been a key part of the Bayern side since the late 1990s.