Ajax baulk at Litmanen demands

Technical director, Leo Beenhakker, told the local media that the personal demands of the Finnish maestro are beyond the club's means and the former favourite will not be returning to the Amsterdam ArenA.

Reports suggest Liverpool have allowed the creative midfielder to leave following the summer arrival of El Hadji Diouf from Lens, which has swelled the Anfield striking options further, but the player's inflationary wages mean potential employers are limited.

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman declared that Litmanen would always be welcome back at the club that he helped to lift the Champions League title in 1995 but the club refuse to sanction such an expensive move.

Litmanen, 31, joined The Reds from Barcelona in 2001 but has been in and out of the stating line-up with manager Gerard Houllier preferring to partner Emile Heskey and Michael Owen in attack.