Transfers - Gossip Shop: Where next for Owen?

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 14:17:00 2009

After Newcastle and Middlesbrough were relegated, Gossip Shop predicts the North East to be a touch lighter of Bentleys and fake tans by the start of the new season, with Michael Owen the obvious man to move on.

FOOTBALL Michael Owen looks to the sky during Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa that relegated them from the Premier League. - 0

Newcastle United

Michael Owen: It was inevitable that, on joining from Real Madrid to get more first-team football (ha!), Owen would endure a horrible, injury-ravaged spell at a club that appears to have a training ground riskier than a night out with Joey Barton.

Even though he is out of contract, no-one in their right minds will take him on anything but an ad-hoc basis.

Sunderland could consider a bid and there were rumours a few weeks ago that he could be offered a pay-as-you-play deal with Celtic in a bid to resurrect his career.

Obafemi Martins: On his day, Nigeria striker Martins looks like a world-beater, with searing pace and a fearsome shot. It is unfortunate that, in December, he suffered a torn hamstring, followed by a hernia op, as before then he was in fine form and could easily have scored another 10 goals to keep the Magpies up.

His transfer fee and wages are out of range for promoted or lower-range Premier League sides - he would go for less than his £13m get-out clause but more than £7m and earns around £90,000 a week.

If Arsenal sell Emmanuel Adebayor, he could go there, and Manchester Cityshould sign Martins, but will not, because he is not famous enough.

Everton would be a possible destination if they can't agree a fee with City for Jo. He is too expensive for Fulham, where he would shine domestically and in Europe.

A return to Serie A could be on too. Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina take note.

Jonas Gutierrez: The Argentina international looked a class act when he signed from Mallorca, but, no matter how good they are, wingers do not determine whether a side stays up or not.

Tottenham are in the market for a wide man, Wigan are set to lose Luis Antonio Valencia to Real Madrid, while Jermaine Pennant's loan at Portsmouth is unlikely to be extended but a return to Spain is most likely.

Fabrizio Coloccini: Oh dear. They thought he would be quite good and, at £10m, he had to be.

But he has epitomised everyone that is wrong with Newcastle - error prone, highly paid, expensively coiffed and rubbish.

No sane club in England will take him so he will probably go back to Spain, on loan, with former clubs Deportivo or Atletico Madrid most likely.

Joey Barton: He will be out if Alan Shearer stays, for sure, but who will take him God only knows.

Even Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce - the master of managing wild, out-of-control maniacs and broken men - could not control the feet, mouth and fists of Barton: a career in Mixed Martial Arts beckons.

Mark Viduka is in the twilight of his career and is likely to retire to an Aussie beach; Alan Smith's high wages mean a loan is awaiting, to a promoted side, Sunderland, Hull or Blackburn; Jose Enrique is expected to return to Spain; Sebastien Bassong won the player of the season award and has said he will not play in the Championship and Arsenal are whispered to be interested; Steven Taylor's blood runs black and white and he, if anyone, will stay for the fight; Habib Beye is good enough but, with most teams in England well-covered at right-back, expect a return to France unless Pompey sell Glen Johnson to Liverpool or Tottenham.

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Middlesbrough

Tuncay: The Turkey playmaker is good enough to play for any top European club and Chelsea have been tipped with a bid for the ex-Fenerbahce man.

He would not look out place playing off or wide of Fernando Torres at Liverpool, while Tottenham could use him wide left.

Tuncay would cost around £7m, a snip given his quality.

Stewart Downing: England winger Downing has constantly been linked with Spurs and Liverpool but this season showed a worrying lack of appetite for a fight.

A foot injury will rule him out until just before the transfer window shuts, so he is likely to move at the last minute.

Robert Huth: The German stopper has been praised by his national team coach Joachim Loew for his performances this season.

Likely to fetch around £5m, he would be a possible replacement for retired Martin Laursen at Aston Villa, or Brede Hangeland should Fulham sell him to Arsenal or Liverpool.

David Wheater is a Boro lad and will probably stay, as would Julio Arca given how settled he has been in the North East; Gary O'Neill could return to Portsmouth; Afonso Alves is just not cut out for the English game and is expected to join Benfica; Matthew Bates is highly-rated, and out of contract, so Everton, Chelsea, Villa and anyone else who fancies it can nab him for free.

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West Brom

Scott Carson: England's Scott Carson is only in Fabio Capello's squad on account of having two hands and a UK passport.

While he has all the physical and technical attributes to be a world-class goalkeeper, he lets through the daisy-cutters too often to be trusted.

Jonathan Greening: His passing and positioning have been vital to a Baggies side that play good football but lack a cutting edge and defensive nous.

Greening has said he will stay at the Hawthorns but do not be surprised if a promoted side come in.

GS rarely offers advice to Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, but Greening suited is to their style and the Cottagers are short on numbers ahead of a European campaign that will stretch their squad to the limit.

Ishmael Miller will have to stay and regain fitness after a cruciate ligament injury stopped him in his tracks just as he was getting to grips with the Premier League; Borja Valero joined West Brom for a club-record fee but flattered to deceive and is unlikely to want to play in the Championship - a return to Spain with former club Mallorca, Deportivo or Getafe is in order; James Morrison started the season well but tailed off and needs to prove himself again before attracting top-flight attention; Roman Bednar is almost certainly on his way after an alleged drug-bust; loan players Jay Simpson, Ryan Donk, Youssuf Mulumbu and Marc-Antoine Fortune are expected to return to their parent clubs.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. Owen is a poacher hahaha he couldnt poach an egg in his­ current form, hes greedy simple plain truth of the­ matter the ran his contract down with Liverpool­ promising to sign a new deal for 2 years then left with­ less than a week before the season started leaving then­ no time to buy a replacement, he will do the same to­ the Magpies, you wont se a return in goals or money­ from the has been.

    From heldersmelder, on Tue 26 May 4:42PM

  2. Owen is a poacher. Don't expect him to fetch and­ carry.

    From FRANK D, on Tue 26 May 3:49PM

  3. fulham must buy new players because they are now in­ european cup and they need to prove themselves.the­ players for fulham are:defenders:steven taylor,anton­ ferdinand,onouha,midfielders:downing,johnson(this is at­ m.city),taarabt,ramsey,strikers:sanli,owen,smith

    From besa, on Tue 26 May 3:29PM

  4. Michael owen is a disgrace to all toon supporters he­ hardly played in the seasons he was there. he was payed­ way over the top for the quality he is now and he­ dragged his feet on a new contract. He recked his­ carrer going to real madrid in the first place. I hope­ all the other clubs see what he now and not what he­ once was.

    From John O, on Tue 26 May 12:12PM

  5. Someone slagging of Peter Crouch being in the England­ Team his Goalscoring record in an England shirt is­ outstanding, and how i bet the Toon would have loved­ Crouch in the Squad and not Owen who is going through­ the motions and getting 100k a week. Owen will end up­ with no team interested if he doesnt drop his huge pay­ demands on a pay as you play deal, with his Injury­ record being so bad would you want your team to sign­ him or a player who can play week in week out like­ Crouch for instance.

    From Don, on Tue 26 May 11:25AM

  6. Arsenal should sell Adebayor and take Martins. A paced­ attack comprising Arshavin, Walcott and Martins should­ wreck any defence and allow van Persie and Eduardo to­ pick up the pieces and score goals. My only concern is­ an almost entirely leftfooted attack. Could it hamper­ creativity?

    From Kaybee, on Tue 26 May 10:23AM

  7. Michael 'Sicknote' Owen is completely washed­ up. Time for him to retire to his 'orses while fans­ can still remember when he was good (between 1998 and­ 2003)

    From Cameron D, on Tue 26 May 9:32AM

  8. You can't see any teams in need of a striker apart­ from Everton? I can think of one, Liverpool, Torres­ seems a bit lonely

    From lukenods, on Tue 26 May 8:01AM

  9. Carlton Cole has more chances to play for England in­ the world cup than Owen TBH. He should stay with­ Newcastle to help them fight for promotion. Should the­ club decide to sell him to reduce wages, then he has no­ choice but to reduce his wage demand. Can't see­ anyone needing a striker other than Everton or one of­ the lower clubs.

    From c, on Tue 26 May 5:03AM

  10. Hello Scouse.Brown, I'm hoping for an Everton win­ in the final. Most Kopites do.

    From c, on Tue 26 May 4:57AM

  11. None of the top 4 clubs will want Owen there. The guy­ is almost permanently injured. This raises the question­ apart from Man City who could afford his 100k a week­ wages? Would they want him when they can afford anyone­ in the world?

    Owen will either take a wage cut and go­ to Villa or Spurs or move abroad poss MLS

    Not good­ enough anymore

    From Liam, on Tue 26 May 1:01AM

  12. i think owen would like to go to everton and david­ moyes would love to have him but its more likely­ he'll end up at man city on the bench until he gets­ his eye back or they get some supply to him. anyway it­ would be a shame to see a player of his quality not at­ a top club but if hes going to try get his england­ place back he'll probably have to go abroad, maybe­ milan or savilla.

    From N, on Mon 25 May 11:24PM

  13. wenger please buy obafemy...he is world class....

    From two2tango, on Mon 25 May 11:24PM

  14. ha ha ..... you,re havin a laugh ,bad enough him being­ a R.S. reject! why would we take a "barcode"­ reject? ... sorry but he,s past his sell by date and­ beside EVERTON are in the ascendency... and­ "michael" isn,t .......

    From doog, on Mon 25 May 10:39PM

  15. I Agree with everyone who says no to Owen going to­ Everton . I would rather have Smithy on loan for a­ season ,on half his wages obviously...

    From Peter, on Mon 25 May 10:14PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lfc need to listen 2 me. they need to get aguero for­ 15mill and lucas.only if alonso gose get cana.bt get­ barry anyway.For the forward nd left get silva nd right­ lennon (wicked winger) the get johnson,and albiol. get­ lavezzi. i no these are all expensive but sell babel­ alonso (mabey) Dossena(3.5mill) Voronin (5mill)­ Intange(500,000) pennant(6mill) plus the money of the­ owners mabey new owners (even richer) and the robbie­ keane money.
    LISTEN TO ME RAFA.

    From Rob LFC guy, on Mon 25 May 5:44PM

  17. Come to Hull Michael and join Jimmy Bullard - we have­ good hospitals. Oh yeah, we're also still in th­ prem - bye bye Newcastle. Loving the Petula Clark song­ - DOON TOON!! See yah xx

    From sam, on Mon 25 May 5:22PM

  18. joey barton has just signed for Rangers!.

    but its the­ Power Rangers.

    From A.Moaner, on Mon 25 May 5:09PM

  19. HE WAS A GUD PLAER BETWEEN 1997 OND 2003. FAE THA LAST­ SAX YEERS HES DANE NATHAN. A SAY NATHAN. APURT FAE­ STEAL MANEY AFF PAPULS.

    From donneysbeck, on Mon 25 May 4:32PM

  20. HE AS A CRIPPAL. A SHAD BE AN A NARSANG HOME.

    From donneysbeck, on Mon 25 May 4:31PM
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