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發表於 2005-8-19 14:34:40
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Reds race for Owen goes to the wire
Sid Lowe in Madrid
Friday August 19, 2005
The Guardian
Liverpool's pursuit of Michael Owen appears to be going down to the transfer-window wire despite Real Madrid's confirmation yesterday that the Anfield club are "very interested" in re-signing the striker.
Owen's representatives are holding talks with Liverpool with the blessing of Real, but are aware that there is a significant difference between Real's asking price and what Liverpool are prepared to pay. Certainly, neither club wishes to make a loss on the£8m deal that took Owen to the Bernabéu a year ago.
Last night Real insisted they have yet to receive a formal offer and warned they will not allow the England striker to depart cheaply. Until an offer is formalised Real are understood not to be directly involved in the negotiations, with Owen's agents handling the discussions but keeping officials at the Spanish club in touch with developments.
Real would welcome a move for Owen before the August 31 transfer deadline but were quick to emphasise that it would take a "really important bid, a lot of money" to secure his departure from Spain. While the bidding, officially at least, will start at €25m (around £17m), Real would be likely to accept a fee closer to €15m (£10m). They will not, in principle, countenance a loan deal.
With one year left on his Liverpool contract, Owen had arrived in Madrid for a knockdown price and scored 13 league goals in 20 matches last season. While his desire for a starting place has been made harder by the summer arrivals of Robinho and Julio Baptista, Real are adamant his value has risen, and he has three years left on his current Madrid deal.
Owen spoke to Real officials two weeks ago and said he wanted to return to England. He was told that while Real would prefer him to stay, they accepted his reasoning - in which next summer's World Cup figured prominently - and that should a decent offer be made it would be considered.
That assurance hid the extent to which Real see the England striker as a significant source of income with which to balance the books after the signings not only of Baptista and Robinho but also Pablo García and Carlos Diogo. Nor do they consider him indispensable, despite a recent pro-Owen mood in the Spanish press.
Although a central defender and right-sided midfielder remain Rafael Benítez's priorities, the Liverpool manager has been persuaded by his board to reconsider a move for Owen which initially he had publicly ruled out.
The likely departure of Milan Baros, with Aston Villa leading the chase for his signature but as yet unwilling to match Liverpool's £7m valuation, will free up a place in the squad and the money with which to make a bid, although Owen is likely to have to accept a slight cut in his current £90,000-a-week salary.
Liverpool are one of three clubs who, Real understand, are considering a formal move for Owen, with Newcastle United also "very keen" to sign him and Manchester United retaining what has been described as a "slightly lesser" interest.
Aware of Owen's determination to play Champions League football next season, Real now consider Liverpool to be his most likely destination, despite the open enthusiasm of Newcastle's manager Graeme Souness. |
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狗仔卡
發表於 2005-8-19 13:59:30
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發表於 2005-8-19 14:05:17
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