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-Taken from Liverpoolfc.tv-
Michael Owen'S Anfield future is in the balance after an 11th hour crisis in contract talks.
The Liverpool striker is unlikely to play in the Champions League qualifier against AK Graz unless his situation is resolved within the next 24 hours.
Owen continued negotiations about a new deal in New York last week and was close to agreeing terms, but it's believed clubs from abroad - including Barcelona - have shown late interest to sign him.
Real Madrid have also had a long-term interest in the striker.
The ECHO understands that's forced the 24-year-old into the biggest decision of his career.
He must either sign a new deal now or leave the club immediately to ensure Liverpool get a decent fee for his services.
Owen doesn't want to exit Liverpool on a free transfer, but unless he's sold before August 31 or signs the contract on offer, that's the only option left.
The timing of tomorrow's Champions League qualifier has created a major dilemma for both the player and his club.
Neither party wants Owen cup-tied because if contract talks break down after the fixture, both will lose out.
If Owen plays in Austria, he'll only be eligible to play in Europe for Liverpool this season. That will effectively end any possibility of him being transferred to a top continental club before next summer.
Any joy at keeping Owen for another season must be balanced by the fact Liverpool would then risk losing a £10m asset on a free Bosman transfer - unless the striker signs a new deal.
Rafael Benitez's first teamsheet for a competitive Liverpool match now promises to be one of his most important.
If Owen's name is on it, it indicates the forward will pledge his future to the club and sign fresh terms.
If the worst case scenario materialises and he isn't, an illustrious Anfield career could be coming to an end.
However, Benitez tried to play down the situation today, saying: "For me the most important thing is the match and I don't want to talk about individual players.
"Michael will travel with the team and I can use him if I want. I won't decide on the starting XI until half-an-hour before the match.
"I train with all the squad, not just 11 players and my job at the moment is simply to prepare the team for a big game tomorrow."
(Sorry for quoting the whole thing, it wouldn't let me link to the website)
-------------------------------
Basically, all this take of Owen leaving has started again; thing is this time, it'll seem like a much more "rushed" process, and we stand to only get a potential £10mil from any transfer!
Me personally; I'm confident of him staying, but I nevertheless hate stories like this, especially just before the start of a new season, and only 20-odd days before the Transfer Window closes.
Michael Owen'S Anfield future is in the balance after an 11th hour crisis in contract talks.
The Liverpool striker is unlikely to play in the Champions League qualifier against AK Graz unless his situation is resolved within the next 24 hours.
Owen continued negotiations about a new deal in New York last week and was close to agreeing terms, but it's believed clubs from abroad - including Barcelona - have shown late interest to sign him.
Real Madrid have also had a long-term interest in the striker.
The ECHO understands that's forced the 24-year-old into the biggest decision of his career.
He must either sign a new deal now or leave the club immediately to ensure Liverpool get a decent fee for his services.
Owen doesn't want to exit Liverpool on a free transfer, but unless he's sold before August 31 or signs the contract on offer, that's the only option left.
The timing of tomorrow's Champions League qualifier has created a major dilemma for both the player and his club.
Neither party wants Owen cup-tied because if contract talks break down after the fixture, both will lose out.
If Owen plays in Austria, he'll only be eligible to play in Europe for Liverpool this season. That will effectively end any possibility of him being transferred to a top continental club before next summer.
Any joy at keeping Owen for another season must be balanced by the fact Liverpool would then risk losing a £10m asset on a free Bosman transfer - unless the striker signs a new deal.
Rafael Benitez's first teamsheet for a competitive Liverpool match now promises to be one of his most important.
If Owen's name is on it, it indicates the forward will pledge his future to the club and sign fresh terms.
If the worst case scenario materialises and he isn't, an illustrious Anfield career could be coming to an end.
However, Benitez tried to play down the situation today, saying: "For me the most important thing is the match and I don't want to talk about individual players.
"Michael will travel with the team and I can use him if I want. I won't decide on the starting XI until half-an-hour before the match.
"I train with all the squad, not just 11 players and my job at the moment is simply to prepare the team for a big game tomorrow."
(Sorry for quoting the whole thing, it wouldn't let me link to the website)
-------------------------------
Basically, all this take of Owen leaving has started again; thing is this time, it'll seem like a much more "rushed" process, and we stand to only get a potential £10mil from any transfer!
Me personally; I'm confident of him staying, but I nevertheless hate stories like this, especially just before the start of a new season, and only 20-odd days before the Transfer Window closes.
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Owen tosses the ball into the crowd, a short man with silly hair catches it. As the crowd leaves, the man sits there, grimly intent on his task. As the sky darkens, a man in a trench-coat emerges from the stairwell and sits beside him:
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes. I shall sign."
"You have made the right decision. This is for you. Ole."
A glimpse of a red shirt is seen, the number 18 and the word Maniche visible. The short man with silly hair leaves. The man in the trench-coat leans back on his seat and smiles. Everything was slowly falling into place...
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes. I shall sign."
"You have made the right decision. This is for you. Ole."
A glimpse of a red shirt is seen, the number 18 and the word Maniche visible. The short man with silly hair leaves. The man in the trench-coat leans back on his seat and smiles. Everything was slowly falling into place...
What a statement of intent that would be; the cameras all around the world are focused on the dug-out, waiting for the "Will he-won't he" saga to come to some sort of conclusion.
Media Journalists are all crossing their fingers that the stories they printed are proved right.
Then, the fanfare starts. The dark shadows of the players grower ever bigger and more colourful.
Who's holding the match-ball? It's Michael Owen. The Media are pulling their hair out. They've lost.
During the match, Owen hits a hat-trick with a dazzling display, the Media erase their reports of "I told you so", and have to replace it with "Owen: Phoenix Hero".
Owen walks back through the dugout, with the match-ball. The Media simply stand and clap as they have witnessed surely the greatest display in a Liverpool shirt by the boy wonder.
Media Journalists are all crossing their fingers that the stories they printed are proved right.
Then, the fanfare starts. The dark shadows of the players grower ever bigger and more colourful.
Who's holding the match-ball? It's Michael Owen. The Media are pulling their hair out. They've lost.
During the match, Owen hits a hat-trick with a dazzling display, the Media erase their reports of "I told you so", and have to replace it with "Owen: Phoenix Hero".
Owen walks back through the dugout, with the match-ball. The Media simply stand and clap as they have witnessed surely the greatest display in a Liverpool shirt by the boy wonder.
I'll savour the moment when the Pool walk out of the tunnel against GAK and Mikey is 2nd in line.
I don't know, but we should saviour the moment ;)
Wasn't this the same Marca that reported Vieira had signed for Madrid and Maniche was "95%" certain as his replacement?
Oooooh, a thread of goodness:
"Real Madrid officials have reportedly told Spanish daily Marca that there is no truth in the rumours linking them with a move for Michael Owen. "
"Real Madrid officials have reportedly told Spanish daily Marca that there is no truth in the rumours linking them with a move for Michael Owen. "
And in Owen we've got a man who we know can score goals AND has pace, skill and still has relative youth.
Edit - Oh, you said which of the two Madrid boys, heh :) I'd rather have Morientes than Eto'o.
Edit - Oh, you said which of the two Madrid boys, heh :) I'd rather have Morientes than Eto'o.
Like Vieira at Arsénal, Owen's not going anywhere right now, either.
Real's latest "move" (for Owen) has only come because they know they have a chance of unsettling the player, at a time when negotiations over a new extension to his contract appear to be stalling.
Real are only acting now because they're desperate. They feel as if they may well have missed out on Vieira, after Arsénal increased the asking price, and so, they 'have' to sign one big-name player in order to keep up their yearly reputation of doing so.
Owen will soon sign a new contract, and that will be the end of it.
With Houllier out of the way and Cissé in, he's got to be relishing the new season to come and what success it might bring.
If Steven Gerrard can turn his back on it having previously said he's agree to a move to Chelsea, anyone at Liverpool can do it (...even Traoré)!
Say the worst did happen, though... And Michael Owen looked set to sign for Real Madrid before the end of the month... Of the two strikers which could be on offer, who would you Liverpool fans rather have as No.10?
In Morientes, you have a man we all know can score goals. Yet, he lacks the pace, youth and perhaps even skill of Cameroon's exciting Samuel Eto'o. He is Spanish, though... Maybe that'd play as a big factor in Rafael Benitez's final descision?
Real's latest "move" (for Owen) has only come because they know they have a chance of unsettling the player, at a time when negotiations over a new extension to his contract appear to be stalling.
Real are only acting now because they're desperate. They feel as if they may well have missed out on Vieira, after Arsénal increased the asking price, and so, they 'have' to sign one big-name player in order to keep up their yearly reputation of doing so.
Owen will soon sign a new contract, and that will be the end of it.
With Houllier out of the way and Cissé in, he's got to be relishing the new season to come and what success it might bring.
If Steven Gerrard can turn his back on it having previously said he's agree to a move to Chelsea, anyone at Liverpool can do it (...even Traoré)!
Say the worst did happen, though... And Michael Owen looked set to sign for Real Madrid before the end of the month... Of the two strikers which could be on offer, who would you Liverpool fans rather have as No.10?
In Morientes, you have a man we all know can score goals. Yet, he lacks the pace, youth and perhaps even skill of Cameroon's exciting Samuel Eto'o. He is Spanish, though... Maybe that'd play as a big factor in Rafael Benitez's final descision?
down wrote:
> [URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/3927983.stm[/URL]
>
> Wouldn't you rather have Morientes than Owen?
>
> (apart from Stryke)
--
No. I'd prefer to have Baros and Cisse as our first choice.
But why are we discussing this? He won't go to Madrid. He wouldn't be first-team. There's. No. Point. If I was him I'd choose Barcelona.
Actually if I was him I'd stay at Liverpool. And I'd be in love with myself.
> [URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/3927983.stm[/URL]
>
> Wouldn't you rather have Morientes than Owen?
>
> (apart from Stryke)
--
No. I'd prefer to have Baros and Cisse as our first choice.
But why are we discussing this? He won't go to Madrid. He wouldn't be first-team. There's. No. Point. If I was him I'd choose Barcelona.
Actually if I was him I'd stay at Liverpool. And I'd be in love with myself.
[URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/3927983.stm[/URL]
Wouldn't you rather have Morientes than Owen?
(apart from Stryke)
Wouldn't you rather have Morientes than Owen?
(apart from Stryke)
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