Transfers - Gossip Shop: Everton eyeing Owen

Eurosport - Thu, 30 Apr 16:41:00 2009

Of all the clubs in all the world, why does Michael Owen have to be courted by this one?

2008-2009 Newcastle United Michael Owen - 0

With Owen's Newcastle deal expiring at the end of the season, it is Everton who are set to step in and bring the former England striker (in fact, just make that former striker) back to Merseyside on a free transfer this summer, according to the Express.

Like so many Liverpool greats, Owen was a boyhood Evertonian, but seeing as he left Anfield some four-and-a-half years ago and the Reds have won the Champions League since then, he might be spared the 'Judas' tag and hanged effigies prompted by so many other inter-city turncoats.

The Toffees are both too skint and too sane to match Owen's current £100,000-a-week wage, but a hefty signing-on fee and a cutback on all those helicopter journeys could be enough to tempt Owen on board the good ship Moyes.

Portsmouth are pretty hard-up too at the moment. So hard-up, in fact, that they are touting around right-back Glen Johnson for £16m, so says the Daily Mirror.

What's that? Did somebody say overpriced England nearly-man? That'll be Tottenham Hotspur pushing themselves to front of the queue then. Liverpool and Aston Villa are also hovering around, no doubt waiting to drive a harder bargain once Johnson turns Spurs down.

Already managing a squad that boasts a whopping 15 different nationalities, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants to make it a sweet 16 by signing Marseille midfielder Lorik Cana, the Albania international who has been instrumental in Marseille's surge to the top of Ligue 1.

Former Birmingham City forward Mauro Zarate could be on his way back to the Premier League if he doesn't sign a permanent deal with Lazio. The Argentine has made a success of his loan spell in Serie A, further inflating his already high self image to the point where he wants £70,000-a-week, a figure the Roman side will struggle to meet.

Manchester United target Franck Ribery has heaped further pressure on Bayern Munich by claiming he will think about leaving if the club do not qualify for the Champions League. However, United will face a fight from Barcelona, Ribery's preferred destination.

Finally, Manchester City playmaker Elano is being extra nice to manager Mark Hughes after the Brazilian announced his desire to sign a new contract with the club.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 75

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  1. I am a Newcastle supporter who goes to most home games­ and beleive me after watching him play , Owen would­ struggle to get goals in the championship. Is he­ another player who is " too good to play in the­ championship " He's not, none of them are...

    From sean.nufc, on Thu 30 Apr 1:30PM

  2. Let's hope Everton do take Owen off our hands.­ We'll never be able to afford his wages in the­ championship, especially when he has forgotten where­ the back of the net is. I don't mean that. I like­ him really. Wish he'd score some goals though.

    From Phil, on Thu 30 Apr 1:29PM

  3. dats wat everton need another injury prone striker haha

    From doylerrrrr, on Thu 30 Apr 1:25PM

  4. I believe that Everton are more careful than­ 'skint'. Michael Owen would be good for Everton­ and it might also benefit his future in football. He is­ a proven striker and is as skillful as most strikers in­ the Premiership. However, like all strikers he needs a­ resistently high level of good ball to score and I hope­ that Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini and Owen would form a­ formidable quartet.

    From WILLIAM, on Thu 30 Apr 1:12PM

  5. micheal owen ehhhh.needs to do the business for the­ magpies before thinking about a move to everton...

    From NICKK, on Thu 30 Apr 1:12PM

  6. If Elano keeps putting in the sort of display that we­ have seen in the last 2 matches, then i can't see a­ problem holding onto the tricky fella. BUT the first­ game he goes missing then it's off on loan to­ Plymouth or Aberdeen.

    From Andy, on Thu 30 Apr 1:12PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    United should buy Owen. Him and Rooney in attack? mmmm­ ;)

    From miniroll32, on Thu 30 Apr 1:05PM

  8. rwlwhite1 (2): Not sure, but I recon Alabania must be­ somewhere between Alabama and Albania.

    From Chris C, on Thu 30 Apr 1:04PM

  9. It is so frustrating being a fan of one of the hard up­ clubs. Its hard enough already but as soon as you have­ a good player along come the rich clubs and take them­ away. Often they then sit on the bench at their new­ club while you continue to struggle and get poorer. ­ Unfortunately football is now run for the benefit of­ the players and their agents whilst the fans are­ ignored and just used as cash cows. Perhaps it would­ be better if real fooyball was run like fantasy­ football with all players given a value at the start of­ the season and each club only allowed to have players­ up to a set total value.

    From Kevin, on Thu 30 Apr 12:58PM

  10. you must buy the daily sport or the news of the world

    From neil., on Thu 30 Apr 12:57PM

  11. Leaving a sinking ship....sounds familiar

    From shivylb, on Thu 30 Apr 12:47PM

  12. who writes this nonsense???

    From Ryan, on Thu 30 Apr 12:42PM

  13. I agree with that guy

    From Ronan, on Thu 30 Apr 12:38PM

  14. where is Alabania? do you mean Albania?

    From rwlwhite1, on Thu 30 Apr 12:33PM

  15. Gossip Pish more like!

    From crispyduck, on Thu 30 Apr 12:28PM
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