CarraLegend

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...25/sfnowe25.xml A tense waiting game was being played in England and Spain last night as Real Madrid and Newcastle watched out for Liverpool to mount a move for Michael Owen. The striker had stepped up his attempts to engineer a move back to his Anfield roots after an unhappy spell in Spain only for Newcastle to raise the stakes substantially with a £16 million bid. Owen, now 25, has given up hope of establishing himself at Madrid after a year's toil and increased the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to welcome him back to Merseyside by making a public statement outlining his hopes. He declared that he had his heart set on rejoining Liverpool, but he also revealed that he would settle for a year's loan at Newcastle in order to be at his sharpest in the run-up to next year's World Cup finals. "I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid team and, if not, I would prefer to return to Liverpool," Owen said. "The Real president understood and said he would try to help me achieve this. If the transfer cannot be finalised in time, I have agreed to go to Newcastle United, but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year." Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd responded promptly and his club issued a statement yesterday saying that they were willing to break the club's transfer record, the £15 million paid to Blackburn for Alan Shearer in 1996. It is believed the initial transfer fee would be £12 million with the price rising as Owen's career progressed. "Newcastle have met Real Madrid's asking price and conditions," a Newcastle spokesmen said. "The agreed fee will be a record transfer fee for Newcastle. It is now up to the player and his adviser." Newcastle's lavish efforts to court Owen would appear to have put the player out of Liverpool's reach as far as a permanent transfer is concerned. It is understood his former employers would prefer to bring him back to England on a season-long loan. Real are believed to be reluctant to enter such a deal with Champions League rivals and that could ultimately strengthen Newcastle's seemingly audacious attempt to secure Owen's services, especially as the closing of this summer's transfer window draws ever nearer. Officials in Madrid confirmed that Newcastle had made a "serious" bid for their striker but, worryingly for Owen, also confirmed that they had not received an offer from Liverpool. "Newcastle have made a serious offer that has met the requirements of Real Madrid," said Real's director of communications, Antonio Garcia Ferreras. "The move now depends on Newcastle and the player reaching an agreement themselves, but as far as Real Madrid is concerned Michael Owen has the go-ahead to leave." Owen, the 2001 European Footballer of the Year who joined Real Madrid for £8 million a year ago, managed to score 16 goals last season but the signings of Brazilian forwards Robinho and Julio Baptista have pushed him down the pecking order. His year in Madrid was a contrast to his time at Anfield where he was the darling of the Kop, scoring 158 goals in 297 games. Benitez, however, insists his priority is to sign a centre-half and a right-winger. He has Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch as his main strikers. "I want other players first. I'm happy with my five strikers even now Milan Baros has gone," Benitez said after Tuesday's 3-2 aggregate win over CSKSA Sofia that guaranteed they would be able to defend their European crown in this season's Champions League. Newcastle are desperate to recruit another forward because they have struggled in attack this season. Shearer, 35, has been left to battle alone without adequate support. The move for Owen is reminiscent of last summer when Newcastle offered Everton £25 million for Wayne Rooney, a piece of high-profile business that was seen as an attempt to flush out other interested parties. He subsequently joined Manchester United. Last night Liverpool officials were refusing to comment on Owen's public desire to return to Anfield. Newcastle are confident about their ability to sign Owen and are also hoping to sign the Deportivo winger Albert Luque for £7.5 million before the transfer window closes next week

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/4182612.stm Graeme Souness has insisted Newcastle are only interested in signing Real Madrid striker Michael Owen on a permanent basis and not on loan. Newcastle have had a club-record offer, thought to be £17m, accepted by Real, but Owen suggested a loan might happen. Souness said: "As I understand it, the loan is not an option, not a chance. Not when we've made a whacking great offer for him that's been accepted. "He is contracted to Real Madrid and it is not his decision." Souness added: "No player can make that decision. "If Real have accepted our offer and they are happy with that then it is now up to us to make the deal attractive for Michael. "I am guessing that because Real have spent a lot of money on Robinho and Julio Baptista, then like any club they would want to recoup some of their money for a player who might not be involved too much this season. "All I can tell you is we have made a club-record offer that has been accepted by Real Madrid. "It is now up the player and his advisers as to whether he says yes or no. "I am a confident sort of person and I am hopeful Michael will join us. "He knows what we are about. He knows some of the players at our club and I'm sure he will be speaking to them to find out what we can offer him. "That's common sense as far as I see it." BBC Sport understands Liverpool will not pay more than the £8m Real splashed out to land Owen last summer. And he would have to take a pay cut to persuade Liverpool to pursue a deal. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been coy on the possibility of signing a player he agreed to sell last summer, insisting his priority is a central defender and a right-sided midfield player. But he is interested, and BBC Sport believes Liverpool may finally show their hand after Friday's Super Cup Final in Monaco against CSKA Moscow.

If we're leaving any offer until after the Super Cup does it mean we're leaving it until near enough the last minute so Madrid dont have much choice but to accept our bid, or are we targetting other players first in priority positions?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,428-1749350,00.html LIVERPOOL?S prevarication over the purchase of Michael Owen could cost them a couple of million pounds. The Euro- pean champions remain favourites to sign the Real Madrid forward but Newcastle United may have driven the price up yesterday when, in a move that surprised and annoyed Owen?s advisers, they attempted to ambush his return to Anfield by offering £16 million. The England striker remains hopeful of a move back to Liverpool but he will require more of the patience that has served him so well during his year in Spain. No offer for Owen is expected from Merseyside until after tomorrow?s European Super Cup in Monaco and Rick Parry, the chief executive, may find Real greedy for more than the £11 million or so that Liverpool had hoped to pay to bring the forward home. What was already a difficult set of negotiations for Tony Stephens, Owen?s agent from the SFX organisation, became even more complicated when Newcastle leapt in with both feet yesterday. Owen and his representatives have emphasised to Real that they will consider only a loan move to St James? Park and so the revelation that Newcastle had made a club record bid ? some sources claimed it was as high as £18 million, £3 million more than they paid for Alan Shearer ? was unwelcome for the England player even if it delighted the board at the Bernabéu. Real were more than happy formally to accept the offer and they will now use it as a lever when Liverpool come to the negotiating table. The fear for Owen must be that Liverpool, having sold him for £8 million last year, will refuse to be drawn into a bidding contest but he will dig his heels in if Real refuse to accept a profitable offer from Anfield. ?I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid first team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool,? he said in a statement yesterday. ?The president understood me and said he would try to help me achieve this. If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle United but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year.? It would not be the first time that Newcastle had acted as the catalyst for an England striker?s transfer. Their bid for Wayne Rooney last summer forced Manchester United to make their move for the then Everton forward 12 months earlier than they would have liked. Frustrated by Owen?s insistence that he would consider a move to the North East only if a move to Liverpool fell through ? and under pressure from the supporters because of a poor start to the season ? Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, tried to force the issue with an offer beyond even Real?s highest expectations but advisers are insistent that he will not be forced into a permanent move to Tyneside, however much that may suit his present employers. Despite repeated assertions from Rafael Benítez that a centre back and right winger are his priorities, the Liverpool manager knows that Owen would improve his side. He has already sold Milan Baros to Aston Villa to help to make room for Owen, 25, and the Spaniard is also willing to listen to offers for Djibril Cissé, who was bought by Gérard Houllier, his predecessor, for £14 million. Liverpool plan to leave their move for Owen until the last minute. The Kop would certainly welcome back a player who scored 158 goals in 297 games in his first spell. He grabbed 16 goals in a difficult first season in Spain, and there are not high hopes that Fernando Morientes, Peter Crouch or Cissé can be relied upon as regular scorers. Meanwhile, Owen fits and frets in Spain. He may sit on the bench when Real begin the league season away to Cadiz on Sunday but he will hope to be pulling on the familiar red of Liverpool after the international break next week

Another good result for Newcastle tonight. Michael Owen would never go there permanently surely? They are abysmal and they'll be lucky to get top half this season.

Thommo cracked me up on Sky Sports News earlier, he was asked about Owen maybe going to Everton and a massive grin come up on his face and he looked like he was about to piss himself with laughter but he took a few seconds to compose himself and just said "Erm, yeah maybe you never know"

Its f***ing hilarious, he's basically come out with "I want to go to Liverpool, a big club that actually wins thing but if no deal can be agreed i'll go on loan to a s***ty club for the season to get some footy for the World Cup" I wouldnt really be to happy if I was a Newcastle fan.

Their local paper is w*** for transfer news apparently.

The BBCS report of Newcastles bid, it says a LFC spokesperson says we dont comment on press speculation

Just make it happen, Rafa. PLEASE! Posts merged: Newcastle bid for him, he doesnt want to go there permanently He wants to come back here desperately We havent made a bid yet according to Real Madrid Rafa wont give anything away An LFC spokesperson wont comment Finally, this is all doing my head in.

They're f***ing idiots. I really hope they end up bankrupt one day, couldnt happen to a more s***ty club.

I really f***ing hate Newcastle, they've probably done this deliberately knowing we cant match that fee, time nearly runs out then they get him on loan. Why cant he come on loan here?

I hope we have Carra etc on the bench if this is true, I know we've got a big lead but all it takes is a fluke goal early on then it changes a little bit.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Anyway im off out, thank f*** I get away with this. Enjoy your night in w***ing over little black players.

Chill out, I just dont buy all this s*** about "If Rafa says this at a press conference he's doing it deliberately to drive the price down" If it was such a commoned used tactic as people say then surely all clubs would be wise to it and think "He's saying that just to keep the price down" It's all b******s imo.

I doubt Real Madrid need to tune into TV channels or read newspapers to know our feelings on Owen. Surely they'd just contact agents or the club to sort stuff like this out

Pissed at Sky? In English if possible please.

Yeah im sure Real Madrid officials tune in to Sky Sports News everyday to desperately find out news on Michael Owen.

The truth would do me instead of saying "Benitez denies Owen interest" when he hasnt said anything of the sort.

O'Leary is on sky aswell saying there hasnt been any contact from Liverpool or any suggestion from Liverpool about Solano.

So once again he doesnt give anything away and at no point mentions he isnt interested in Owen yet Sky Sports News turn it into "Benitez doesnt want Owen" w*****s.

Didnt say he doesnt want Owen, as usual its sky taking it totally out of context. Just mentioned we want a centre back and havent made a bid for Owen

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...050819-1407.htm Rafael Benitez today confirmed Liverpool have received offers for Milan Baros from both Lyon and Aston Villa. Benitez will include Baros in his squad for tomorrow's game with Sunderland as speculation continues over the Czech striker's future. The Liverpool boss admits Gerard Houllier's Lyon have made a "very good offer" for Baros while Villa have also tabled a bid for the 24 year old. Benitez said: "I am in no hurry to sell the player. We have had a very good offer from Lyon and also an offer from Aston Villa. We are now waiting to see what happens. "At the moment he is our player and he will be in the squad to face Sunderland tomorrow." At a press conference at Melwood this afternoon, Benitez was also asked about speculation linking Djibril Cisse with a surprise move away from Anfield. "I am happy with him, he is our player and he is scoring goals," said the manager. "He could play against Sunderland this weekend."

When he walks in the room he'll probably be in his red jumper, red shorts and will smile and put his hands (Sort of saying "Im ready for you c***s") together then sit down.

They didnt announce it the bloke they were speaking to just mentioned what time it was.