Liverpool FC Forum

[Alonso14]

LIVERPOOL NEGOTIATING OWEN DEAL
KOP Talk 02 August 2005 

Kop Talk can exclusively reveal that Liverpool are negotiating a deal with Real Madrid to try and re-sign striker Michael Owen. 

Despite denials from Anfield, Liverpool are keen on re-signing the England hitman, preferably on a year's loan with a view to a permanent deal next year when additional transfer funds are available.
 
A senior Anfield source told KopTalk.com: "Of course the club want to sign Michael but it's basically just a question of money. Real Madrid are listening which is a start, but although they want to get him off the books (because of his salary) a loan deal isn't an attractive option to them.
 
"The manager has been backed fully by the board this season and funds are available for further purchases but at least two more players are high on the agenda. If Milan (Baros) is sold and maybe someone else like Jerzy (Dudek), more cash would then be freed up to enable a cash bid to be tabled.
 
"What's worrying Rafa is that Xabi Alonso's name was brought up during preliminary discussions. Rafa is concerned though that Real's interest in the player could unsettle him which is why talk of dealing with the Spanish giants has to be played down. We also don't want to look too keen in relation to re-signing Owen in the hope that they lower the asking price."
 
The source added: "The club are in constant dialogue with Owen, his agent and Terry. They have made it perfectly clear that he would reject any other offers if Liverpool can agree a deal with Real.
 
"Manchester United are desperate to sign Owen and have offered him a lucrative deal but if he re-signed for us, he'd actually be taking a reduction in his wages. Things are complicated but there could be a solution."
 
This story has been reproduced from today's media and is not necessarily the position of Liverpool Football Club. 

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i cant imagine this is true, is koptalk a realiable source?

[dosserboy]

Hey A.B., do you believe me now, now Le Tallec is going to Sunderland, Baros left out again of Liverpool squad for champion League, Man Utd saying they are not Interested, looks more and more likely now with the rumours starting to grow, he's comming back, I can feel it in my water!!

[A.B.]

true, is koptalk a realiable source?

Kop Talk is a horrible source.

Hey A.B., do you believe me now, now Le Tallec is going to Sunderland, Baros left out again of Liverpool squad for champion League, Man Utd saying they are not Interested, looks more and more likely now with the rumours starting to grow, he's comming back, I can feel it in my water!!

No I don't believe you

[desperado0831]

There are many possible suitors for Owen now but rafa insisted that count us on on that. Mancs will be his next possible destination after they've already table a 12M bid for the England striker. Owen + Rooney will be a killing pair for everthing else after smith will possibly switch to defensive midfield. Owen is just another token for Real Madrid because RM bought him from us with 10 euro and Mancs buying him with 12M pound. It's business matter.

[JBG]

I would be extremely surprised to see Owen in a Liverpool shirt next season.

Anyway, enough of that, I'm off to watch the match!

[A.B.]

There are many possible suitors for Owen now but rafa insisted that count us on on that. Mancs will be his next possible destination after they've already table a 12M bid for the England striker. Owen + Rooney will be a killing pair for everthing else after smith will possibly switch to defensive midfield. Owen is just another token for Real Madrid because RM bought him from us with 10 euro and Mancs buying him with 12M pound. It's business matter

Today ITV reported that Man Utd are not interested in Owen.

[66-1120597113]

He'll end up at Newcastle! Its a cert

[drummerphil]

cant see him back here

[neil]

we are in dire need of a good at tackling, good in the air and paceful CB and this is what we should be concentrating on getting.

Quite right,however you missed out the need for the CB to have good distribution

[goofy]

so who do we have up front, Morientes, Crouch, Cisse and Baros going with Le Tallec gone,

that's 3 , but suppose Kewell and Luis Garcia can play up front, and then there's Mellor and Pongolle,

Still room for Owen, please don't let Man U have him!

[dosserboy]

so who do we have up front, Morientes, Crouch, Cisse and Baros going with Le Tallec gone,

that's 3 , but suppose Kewell and Luis Garcia can play up front, and then there's Mellor and Pongolle,

Still room for Owen, please don't let Man U have him!

We'll get him!

[mkingdom]

Rafa is playing this perfectly again.

Tonight he said something like...

At this moment we have enough strikers.

Which is true, and also does not rule out a move for Owen.

Very soon, we will not have enough strikers.

Le Tallec gone
Baros days from going (someone will pay north of £6m)

So that leaves Cisse, Crouch and Nando as out and out strikers.

Cisse - looks world class and everything we would want
Nando - looks slow, unfit and has no touch whatsoever
Crouch  - Very early days but hasn't set the world on fire

Garcia can play behind a striker, and probably will away from home.

Kewell - can't be relied on...too little form on a consistent basis and too injured

To go into a 70 game season with three strikers, only one of which has pace and lethal finishing would be foolish.

Look at tonight, Crouch goes off injured, and if that did turn out to be serious could be him out for a few weeks.

All of sudden we have two strikers.  Throw in a few yellow cards for one of the others and a suspension means we are in a similar state to last season..no recognised striking options.

Now, imagine we signed Owen, and Crouch being injured etc does not matter quite so much.

Also, imagine the impact of bringing on Owen (or vice versa with Cisse) after 65 minutes of a prem match...the opposition CBs are knackered, and thankfully wave goodbye to Cisse only to see Owen trot on the pitch.  It's just what we need.

I think Rafa could easily have removed any speculation about Owen tonight by saying, he is not someone we are interested in.

He did not, and he has no reason not to do that, other than he is an option he is looking at.

I would love to see Owen back at Anfield.  He is a better player than when he left, and would add nothing but quality to the squad.

If the choice is Baros or Owen...no brainer....someone pass Michael the pen so he can sign on the dotted line. 

[dosserboy]

Rafa is playing this perfectly again.

Tonight he said something like...

At this moment we have enough strikers.

Which is true, and also does not rule out a move for Owen.

Very soon, we will not have enough strikers.

Le Tallec gone
Baros days from going (someone will pay north of £6m)

So that leaves Cisse, Crouch and Nando as out and out strikers.

Cisse - looks world class and everything we would want
Nando - looks slow, unfit and has no touch whatsoever
Crouch  - Very early days but hasn't set the world on fire

Garcia can play behind a striker, and probably will away from home.

Kewell - can't be relied on...too little form on a consistent basis and too injured

To go into a 70 game season with three strikers, only one of which has pace and lethal finishing would be foolish.

Look at tonight, Crouch goes off injured, and if that did turn out to be serious could be him out for a few weeks.

All of sudden we have two strikers.  Throw in a few yellow cards for one of the others and a suspension means we are in a similar state to last season..no recognised striking options.

Now, imagine we signed Owen, and Crouch being injured etc does not matter quite so much.

Also, imagine the impact of bringing on Owen (or vice versa with Cisse) after 65 minutes of a prem match...the opposition CBs are knackered, and thankfully wave goodbye to Cisse only to see Owen trot on the pitch.  It's just what we need.

I think Rafa could easily have removed any speculation about Owen tonight by saying, he is not someone we are interested in.

He did not, and he has no reason not to do that, other than he is an option he is looking at.

I would love to see Owen back at Anfield.  He is a better player than when he left, and would add nothing but quality to the squad.

If the choice is Baros or Owen...no brainer....someone pass Michael the pen so he can sign on the dotted line. 

Rafa is the master, Owen will sign! All the signs are there, more so tonight than any other night. We DO NOT have enough GOOD strikers at the club. Cisse, Crouch & Morientes, not enough for a long season! Pongolle not good enough YET, Mellor, no chance IMO. If I know that then Rafa does!!

[barnesrush]

too bl00dy right, that knowing smile rafa gave when the interviewer was pushinghim about owen and he kept replying "we have a lot of strikers" or "we need to sign a cb and a right winger" show that even if owen isnt lined up to arrive soon, he is not ruling it out, and may be playing down the hype of a possible transfer.

clutching at straws perhaps but it would have been so easy to say no michael isnt an option we are considering.

i honestly think a deal is in the making, depending on the sale of baros, champ league qualification for financial security (sofia could be a tricky tie). if he does come it would be interesting to see what rafa does with pongo. id love to see him join alt on loan in the prem as playing is the only way he will develop now. the same club for the two of em would be ideal i reckon if possible

[Dalglish]

It would appear that everyone wants Michael Owen except the Clubs !!!!!!

I think the majority of fans would love to se MO back at Liverpool Football Club except Rafa Benitez it would seem. It's another of those "Do you trust the Boss" scenario's iin my opinion.

Personally I'd be over the proverbial moon if he comes back to his footballing home as he does as it's bene said GUARANTTEE you 15-20 goals a season.

And to use keep with the football cliches i'll be as Sick as a Parrot if he joins Man Spew !