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發表於 2005-8-1 15:26:49
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Glazers clear way for Owen signing
Dominic Fifield
Monday August 1, 2005
The Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson has been given the go-ahead to sign Michael Owen after the England striker bowed to the inevitable and accepted he has no future at Real Madrid.
Owen has effectively been relegated to fifth choice at the Bernabéu following the purchase over the weekend of the Brazilian pair Robinho and Julio Baptista. While Real will not transfer-list Owen, they will not stand in his way should he opt to leave and though they may test United's resolve by asking for £17m, are likely to accept a fee of around £11m, making a profit of £3m on what they paid Liverpool last summer.
The scramble to bring him back to the Premiership will revolve around United, Arsenal and the 25-year-old's former club, Liverpool, though Old Trafford increasingly appears the most viable destination. There is support within the Merseysiders' boardroom to bring Owen back to Anfield, though the European champions lack the funds to sign him permanently and would only consider moving for him on a long-term loan basis.
However, the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger last night appeared to distance himself from the player when he told Sky: "We have not made a bid. At the moment I am not looking for a striker, but other areas I am looking at."
While United had not expected to make a major signing this summer after the arrival of Wayne Rooney last year, Malcolm Glazer's purchase of the club has increased their clout in the market.
The Glazers have ensured Ferguson has around £12m available to add to his squad and, while he remains tempted to bid for the Germany midfielder Michael Ballack of Bayern Munich as a successor to Roy Keane, the manager is aware that Owen would fall just within his budget.
Indeed, Ferguson has experimented with Alan Smith in midfield during United's Asia tour, effectively freeing up another place for a striker to compete alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rooney and Louis Saha next season.
United's budget will not stretch to cover both Owen's and Ballack's signings, though the German is out of contract next summer and United may opt to wait until he is a free agent before signing him.
For Owen, the need to play regularly is paramount with next year's World Cup finals in mind. The prospect of becoming a virtually permanent substitute behind Ronaldo, Robinho, Baptista and Raul would prove intolerable, with Owen having accepted the time has come for him to move on in search of regular first-team football.
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發表於 2005-8-1 15:23:31
