Manchester United are reportedly interested in out-of-contract Newcastle United striker Michael Owen.

Owen is looking for a new club after allowing his Magpies deal to expire and a number of Premier League clubs are considering a move.

The likes of Hull City and Stoke City have signalled their intent to bring him in but it now seems Premier League champions Manchester United have also entered the chase.

Sky Bet have slashed their odds on the 29-year-old moving to Old Trafford amid claims that tentative talks have taken place between Owen's representatives and United officials.

Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to bolster his strike-force following the departures of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo

Karim Benzema had appeared to be a primary target but the Frenchman is now on his way to big-spending Real Madrid.

Free agent Owen would be a much cheaper option but United have yet to make any comment on the reports.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5412636,00.html

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They get snubbed by Benzema and now they go for Owen? Not sure what fergie is thinking, very injury prone hasbeen of a striker too fill Tevez's boots.

May well be a pack of rubbish made up by the press though.

Edited July 2, 200915 yr by Sheva

The Larsson loan I could understand, but Owen?

It's media drivel. There is not a chance in hell that would happen. Owen will be best suited at Hull or Birmingham or somewhere like that.

If Fergie really wants him, EVEN as a super sub of sorts, I think it's high time he calls it a day.

Latest reports suggest a deal is in place and all he needs too do is pass his medical.

Now how hard could that be?

I hope it doesnt happen. Owen is my favorite non Chelsea player of all time. Watching him in 1998 was probably the reason I got into football. I know that sounds stupid, but its true.

Knowing their luck he will probably be an excellent super sub, and on top of that there is no risk for them. If they can limit his minutes, he can be effective. Four years ago, he scored alot with very few starts in Madrid. And he is still only 29. Feck

It's media drivel. There is not a chance in hell that would happen. Owen will be best suited at Hull or Birmingham or somewhere like that.

If Fergie really wants him, EVEN as a super sub of sorts, I think it's high time he calls it a day.

Thats what I was thinking, and now a brief search shows virtually every paper is going with the story and that players are welcoming him via text. It went from a total bunch of b.s. to a certainty in less than a day. Weird transfer

Gah, at least the dippers will be sick

I think Owen could turn out to be a real deal for United. Owen is a goal scorer and if he can manage to remain fit for at least half of the season, he could well get a good 10-15 goals. I think the deal would be appearance based so it wont be a gamble for United at all.

Here's hoping all that I said is not true.

if he could keep his mind on football and not the horses, stay and prove his fittness i think he would be a good signing for anyone his goal scoring record speaks for itself, i think as a free transfer he would be worth the gamble for any team.

It's a gamble no doubt about it and personally I don't think it will pay off.

Not too fussed by this to be honest. Owen was the real deal when he had

a) focus

:D serious pace

The former im sure would return if he got such a big and unexpected move, but the latter is gone gone gone and without it he is a much less effective player. Yes, he will do ok, but if they are looking for Owen to fill Tevez's spot on the bench, i think they'll find he won't be anywhere near as effective.

I dont think he's a replacement for Tevez at all. Tevez was never seen as a goal scorer for United and after Ronaldo's exit, they're short of players who can be relied upon to score goals. Rooney will get them 15 maybe 20 goals but apart from that? They dont get too many goals from midfield either. Owen could be the answer to that problem.

Well i think he is, in that he is likely to play the super sub role that Tevez played, as i can't see him starting ahead of Rooney and Berbatov.

Of course he is a different type of player, but given how damn effective Tevez was when he came on, I just can't see how Owen will be as good or better, that's all.

Edited July 3, 200915 yr by Tim

I dont think he's a replacement for Tevez at all. Tevez was never seen as a goal scorer for United and after Ronaldo's exit, they're short of players who can be relied upon to score goals. Rooney will get them 15 maybe 20 goals but apart from that? They dont get too many goals from midfield either. Owen could be the answer to that problem.

I reckon if Ferguson played an orthodox 4-4-2 with Rooney up front alongside Berbatov he'd bag 20+ goals a season no worries.

Looks like the brochure paid off... we'll probably be seeing a few more of those now. I want a Sol Campbell one...

I'm a little worried about this. Owen didn't do all that badly in a pathetic Newcastle team, and I don't think he's lost it at all (although he's not going to be as good as he once was). Let's hope everyone is right about him.

Except me, of course!

Getting Owen in would be another blow to Rooney’s chances of taking the reins and playing as the main striker. He must be worried that once again he’s going to have to do a fetching and carrying role for somebody else - but not as worried as Berbatov should be if a Rooney/Owen partnership takes off!

Getting Owen in would be another blow to Rooney’s chances of taking the reins and playing as the main striker. He must be worried that once again he’s going to have to do a fetching and carrying role for somebody else - but not as worried as Berbatov should be if a Rooney/Owen partnership takes off!

Or as worried as Capello, if he has to back track on his damning indictment of Mr Owen, which would be a little bit embarrassing for him I'm sure.

It's media drivel. There is not a chance in hell that would happen. Owen will be best suited at Hull or Birmingham or somewhere like that.

If Fergie really wants him, EVEN as a super sub of sorts, I think it's high time he calls it a day.

remind me never to ask you for the lottery numbers...... B)

Well he will be guaranteed an England place now, even if he is crocked.

Worth the gamble however I find it hilarious that they are signing a championship striker on a bosman.

Good signing for the Mancs on a free.

Can't wait till he scores a winner in front of the Kop-a-sh*te.

Maybe this is what Owen needs to regain his long lost form? He used to be a great striker and he's not old yet. If he can just stay fit he might turn out to be a good signing for ManU.

Hopefully I'm wrong though and he turns out to be completely s*ite. B)

jesus liverpool fans are arseholes. apparently he walked out on them, even though the truth is benitez wanted rid of him and they got about £8 mill for him. he also did nothing when he left liverpool, when he actually scored a bag full of goals at madrid and was treat pretty poorly in my opinion. and they all hate him too, because he did nothing for liverpool. they really are scum at times.

remind me never to ask you for the lottery numbers...... :lol:

I've put a J 100 for Bulgaria to win the World Cup.

Who's with me,eh ?

Totally agree, the guy has had the worst 4 years of his career at Newcastle. He has been plauged with Injuries and it almost looked certain for him too be playing at a mid table club next season and arguably the biggest club in world football come in for him and the damn Scousers say he's wrong to move there.

Don't they realise he's going there for European Football and a chance of becoming a EPL winners medal also a place in a World Cup England team, this is the big lucky break Michael Owen needed in his career. However the scousers seem to think he's going there just to annoy them.

Lack of brain cells from the scousers yet again.