WIGAN Athletic boss, Paul Jewell, has laughed off speculation that he is lining up a summer move for Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The Latics are one of a number of clubs reported to be keeping an eye on the Wanderers' number one, whose future at the Reebok has been thrown into doubt by a contract dispute.

Arsenal and Middlesbrough are reckoned to be monitoring the Finland international's situation, but Jewell says he is not a target, at least for now.

"We haven't made a bid for Jaaskelainen or spoken about him," he said.

"But why should people spoil a good story with the truth?"

Jaaskelainen, who will make his 300th senior appearance for Wanderers at Newcastle tomorrow, is the club's longest serving player, having arrived in November 1997 from VPS Vassa in a mere £100,000 deal.

He was reported to have agreed a new three-year deal last summer but it emerged just before Christmas that the contract had not been signed because his representatives objected to a particlar clause, which is believed to relate to the structuire of certain payments.

Negotiations stalled but a fortnight ago Sam Allardyce revealed that negotiations were back between the two parties on and that he expected a successful outcome.

But, despite the Wigan boss' protests, rumours have still circulated this week that Jewell is waiting in the wings to add the Wanderers keeper to his squad this summer.

Jewell said: "We're in the market for players this summer, and he is a very good goalkeeper, but we have made no contact with the club.

"I'm really not in the business of talking about players who are still under contract with other clubs, anyway.

"It's just yet another a case of people in the newspapers putting two and two together and making five."