Fulham Close in on £3m Cousin and Run the Rule Over Litmanen

It has been a busy day at Craven Cottage. Roy Hodgson has continued his efforts to strengthen all areas of the Fulham side, with the club having a £3m bid for the Rangers striker Daniel Cousin accepted, bringing Jari Litmanen in on trial and signing the Danish international midfielder Leon Andreason from Werder Bremen.

Rangers turned down the Cottagers' initial bid of around £2m for the Cousin, but Hodgson now seems set to get his man after the club returned with a higher offer. The Gabon striker joined Rangers from the French club Lens last August for around £1m and has scored eight goals in 17 Scottish Premier League matches.

Litmanen, the Finland captain who turns 37 next month, has been without a club since June last year, when he left Malmö after suffering an ankle injury. But Hodgson, who coached the player during Finland's ultimately unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, remains confident that Litmanen retains the talent to make a difference at Fulham.

"I'm very optimistic he can help us in the relegation battle," said Hodgson. "Jari Litmanen is a world-class professional and still has a lot to give at the top level."

Litmanen who has enjoyed spells with Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool between 1992 and 2004, said he was looking forward to the challenge. "Roy rang and provided this opportunity," he said. "Let us see how long I am in London and what will take place."

With further reinforcements to the Fulham forward line possible tomorrow when the US international forward Eddie Johnson faces a work permit hearing, Hodgson turned his attentions to the side's engine room.

Andreasen has signed a 3½-year deal at the club after signing from Werder Bremen, where he struggled to make an impact following his move to Germany in 2005.

Hodgson, though, feels he has made an important capture. "He has all the attributes to succeed at the highest level," said the Fulham manager. "I'm sure that he will play an important part for us in the coming months."