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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/26/newcastleunited.premierleague
Michael Owen is in a strong bargaining position for his contract talks with Newcastle United. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Michael Owen has warned Newcastle United he will leave on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season unless they improve their contract offer. The England striker has told friends he wants to stay at St James' Park having been impressed by Kevin Keegan since the manager's return in January. But talks over a new deal, which began in May, have dragged on because the club are reluctant to match his wage demands.
Owen's £105,000-a-week contract has less than a year left to run and in January he will be able to open discussions with rival clubs about a free transfer next summer. Although the 28-year-old would rather stay at Newcastle, he knows he is likely to receive a larger wage offer elsewhere if he leaves on a Bosman and as a result he and his advisers are negotiating from a position of considerable strength.
Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley, is keen to reduce wages but Owen does not see why he should take a pay cut after proving his worth with 10 goals in 19 games at the end of last season. The club, though, are mindful that their £16m signing from Real Madrid has played only 47 games for them in three years because of injuries.
Keegan insisted in April that he regarded Owen's new contract as the club's most important signing of the summer but the matter has not been resolved, despite several meetings. Owen is keen to get something finalised after expressing his pleasure at life under Keegan. "We had a good time of it last season, especially towards the end," he said yesterday. "There was a feelgood factor about the club and we were buzzing."
Yeah, his wage demand will be ridiculous. But....if Moyes can sort him out, give him a reasonable wage and hopefully the fact he'll realise he play for his boyhood club can make him see sense....
Who thinks we could have a cheeky buy on him?
- <LI class=byline>Simon Williams and Dominic Fifield <LI class=publication>The Guardian,
- Saturday July 26 2008
- Article history
Michael Owen has warned Newcastle United he will leave on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season unless they improve their contract offer. The England striker has told friends he wants to stay at St James' Park having been impressed by Kevin Keegan since the manager's return in January. But talks over a new deal, which began in May, have dragged on because the club are reluctant to match his wage demands.
Owen's £105,000-a-week contract has less than a year left to run and in January he will be able to open discussions with rival clubs about a free transfer next summer. Although the 28-year-old would rather stay at Newcastle, he knows he is likely to receive a larger wage offer elsewhere if he leaves on a Bosman and as a result he and his advisers are negotiating from a position of considerable strength.
Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley, is keen to reduce wages but Owen does not see why he should take a pay cut after proving his worth with 10 goals in 19 games at the end of last season. The club, though, are mindful that their £16m signing from Real Madrid has played only 47 games for them in three years because of injuries.
Keegan insisted in April that he regarded Owen's new contract as the club's most important signing of the summer but the matter has not been resolved, despite several meetings. Owen is keen to get something finalised after expressing his pleasure at life under Keegan. "We had a good time of it last season, especially towards the end," he said yesterday. "There was a feelgood factor about the club and we were buzzing."
Yeah, his wage demand will be ridiculous. But....if Moyes can sort him out, give him a reasonable wage and hopefully the fact he'll realise he play for his boyhood club can make him see sense....
Who thinks we could have a cheeky buy on him?
