Would The "Top Four" Want Owen?

[Tsunami]

Fat Fred is supposedly furious that someone "close" to Owen has stated that he may be ready to activate a get out clause in his contract if a bid of 9 Million is made. The suggestion being that Owen may be trying to engineer a move. I cannot imagine that the club leaked this information.

Would you want him?

If it is true Toon fans will be livid; we paid 17 Million when no-one wanted him & he has only played 13 games in 2 season for us whilst getting paid 110k per week.

I accept few players have any loyalty to the club anymore but if this is correct & Owen does leave he will have taken things to a whole new level

[po_man]

I'm sure that when Owen signed his contract that there was a lot of speculation that there was a buy-out clause in his contract but that Newcastle Utd positively rubbished these rumours and that there was no such thing?
If it turns out that this isn't the case, surely it would be the Newcastle board that would be to blame?

I do agree though, i'd be livid if Owen suddenly decides to seek pastures new, parrticularly the amount invested in him. What you need is for Own to come out and pledge his future .... asap!!

[Tsunami]

Originally Posted by po_man

I'm sure that when Owen signed his contract that there was a lot of speculation that there was a buy-out clause in his contract but that Newcastle Utd positively rubbished these rumours and that there was no such thing?
If it turns out that this isn't the case, surely it would be the Newcastle board that would be to blame?

I do agree though, i'd be livid if Owen suddenly decides to seek pastures new, parrticularly the amount invested in him. What you need is for Own to come out and pledge his future .... asap!!

FF has asked him to do just that. The club denied any get out clause at the time of signing but they have been strangely quiet about it since the story broke..........

The only possible positive I could take from Owen leaving would be to weaken FF's position. Another fine mess. That would mean that FF gave Souness 9 Million to waste on Luque (remember him?) & 17 Million on Owen. Can there be a worse run club given the finances & fan base?

[Nebby]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Owen back at Liverpool next season, or possibly Man United.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by po_man

I'm sure that when Owen signed his contract that there was a lot of speculation that there was a buy-out clause in his contract but that Newcastle Utd positively rubbished these rumours and that there was no such thing?

Owen didn't want to go to Newcastle in the first place, he thought Liverpool would take him back but no chance when we only sold him for £8million - so it wouldn't surprise me if FF allowed this clause at all - just to get him.

I'd have him back at Anfield any day - he looked more dangerous *in front of goal* in his first match back last week than Bellamy has all season..

[Tsunami]

Originally Posted by DJT75

Owen didn't want to go to Newcastle in the first place, he thought Liverpool would take him back but no chance when we only sold him for £8million - so it wouldn't surprise me if FF allowed this clause at all - just to get him.

I'd have him back at Anfield any day - he looked more dangerous *in front of goal* in his first match back last week than Bellamy has all season..

I hope you're not suggesting a swap with Bellamy

[deadred]

Newcastle have only themselves to blame over the Owen transfer, they paid waaaaaaaaay over the odds to sign him because they knew Liverpool were interested but they wouldn't pay over £8-£9m, so Newcastle paid £17m to secure the player and snuff out any interest from other clubs (United included)

Owen owes them nothing at all if there is a clause in the contract and from the soundbites coming from FF's mouth that seems the case, he is desperate for Owen to come out with "Newcastle are the club for me, i'll see out my contract, blah blah blah" which is absolute garbage, everybody knows he would've preferred to rejoin Liverpool than go to Newcastle, and certainly without a manager he isn't going to be making any promises that he will be there next season.

It'll be interesting to see who Newcastle go for as manager, as i think that will play a major role if Owen decides to stay or not.

Although i also think the writing is on the wall and he will end up at United in the summer

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Tsunami

I hope you're not suggesting a swap with Bellamy

Now that's something that definitely want happen! Mind you, with Shearer & Souness gone, anything is possible. He was superb for you guys.

[961]

Before he ever came to Newcastle I thought he was injury prone. Now, more so than ever. How long before the other knee goes? How scared is he now of the crunch tackle?

One thing is certain, he's another year older, and another year slower

As a Ncle supporter for over 50 years I have to say that if someone offered £10m I would grab their hand off

Lets get a strong manager and drum up some cash for him to use during the transfer window. We certainly need to start to build a new young team and many of those around now are toppy in years and vastly overpaid

[eFGee]

Only Liverpool would want him. After all, they took Fowler back.

The other three are light years away from needing a striker who's way past his best.

[RMCF]

I don't think any of the 'big 4' would buy him.

He just isn't worth the risk any more. Far too injury prone and his wages are astronomical for a guy that is likely to break down with another injury any time soon.

Plus, as the post above states, he was past his best anyway. All these injuries take their toll on your body. He is no longer the guy that waltzed round the Argie defence at the WC.

It was a crazy deal with Newcastle in the first place. No other team would have given him that sort of money anyway.

[Nebby]

Originally Posted by RMCF

I don't think any of the 'big 4' would buy him.

He just isn't worth the risk any more. Far too injury prone and his wages are astronomical for a guy that is likely to break down with another injury any time soon.

Plus, as the post above states, he was past his best anyway. All these injuries take their toll on your body. He is no longer the guy that waltzed round the Argie defence at the WC.

It was a crazy deal with Newcastle in the first place. No other team would have given him that sort of money anyway.

Where's the risk?

A medical would highlight any long term injury problems, plus he's still only 28. He's always struck me as a consumate professional, so I could see a host of clubs lining up to buy him; especially if the release clause isn't too high.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by Nebby

Where's the risk?

A medical would highlight any long term injury problems, plus he's still only 28. He's always struck me as a consumate professional, so I could see a host of clubs lining up to buy him; especially if the release clause isn't too high.

We will see where he is at the start of next season then.

It won't be one of the 'big 4' unless Newcastle let him go for a small transfer fee.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Nebby

Where's the risk?

A medical would highlight any long term injury problems, plus he's still only 28. He's always struck me as a consumate professional, so I could see a host of clubs lining up to buy him; especially if the release clause isn't too high.

Exactly.

& all this past his best rubbish? Where has his career ever dipped when fit? It hasn't. Sensational at Liverpool, sensational in an England Shirt, brilliant at Real when selected, brilliant at Newcastle when fit. How much do England miss him? More than any player I can remember.

I know RMCF will disagree with me about life at Real but when it was only politics that kept him on the bench & his scoring record versus starts was that good - it's irrelevant.

Liverpool 216 games (118 goals)
Real Madrid 35 games (13 goals) most as sub when the out of form Raul had to play
Newcastle United 13 games (7 goals)

England U21 1 game (1 goal)
England Senior 80 games (36 goals)

I'd have him back in a flash & I'm pretty sure had he been fit this season, that Newcastle record would read well enough for all of the 4 top teams to be very interested this summer.

[RMCF]

No I won't disagree with you about his time at Madrid.

Yes he did well, and indeed could have done better had it not been for the internal politics at the club. When he came off the bench he never let the club down.

But I just don't think he has that 'something' that he had a few years back. He got noticeably slower and seems to be more injury prone now. I just get the feeling that he is the sort of player who will be 'out' more than 'in' due to injuries. Perhaps he will prove me wrong.

The original question was about the top 4 wanting him. Personally I just can't see it. Thinking about the managers in charge and how they now have the means to outbid nearly any other team in Europe, I would see them going for other players.

Chelsea - don't think Jose would take him. Not his type of forward. Drogba is perfect there, and if he adds a player it will probably be Eto'o or David Villa.
Man Utd - they are probably looking for a younger forward. Remember that 28 is now getting old in todays game. I think they would be more inclined to go for Fernando Torres than Owen.
Arsenal - Wenger has a history of going for youth as well. They have Adebayor (sp?) and will have a fit Van Persie back next season (as well as Henry if he isn't sold).
Liverpool - probably Owen's best chance of a move. Liverpool are rubbish up front and they could do with Owen, but I think that Liverpool will be more inclined to chase Eto'o or David Villa (whichever one Chelsea don't buy!!).

Don't get me wrong - I was always a fan of Owen, but I just don't see the Top 4 being interested in him.