Owen set for crunch talks

[Ketsbaia 0]

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/foot...rticle16801.ece

 

MICHAEL OWEN will be involved in crunch talks with Newcastle this week as his future hangs in the balance.

 

Negotiations over the striker’s contract have been dragging on since May and the two sides are still struggling to reach a settlement.

 

A source close to the talks said: “We are getting towards the business end of things now.

 

“It has gone on for so long without any real progress being made and it can’t continue too much longer.”

 

Reports that Newcastle are offering the England international a £140,000-a-week deal are grossly inaccurate.

 

In fact, the club are adamant he must take a CUT in his current £120,000-a-week wages.

 

But while Owen is keen to continue his career at St James’ Park, particularly under Kevin Keegan, he is not prepared to lower his income significantly.

 

And failure to strike a deal could prove costly for the club.

 

With Owen’s current contract due to expire at the end of the season, Newcastle fear they could lose their star man on a free transfer next summer.

 

Unless a new agreement is reached Owen will be free to talk to any clubs on January 1 — and that could trigger a rush of interest from Premier League rivals.

 

The only alternative would be for the Geordies to sell Owen for a knockdown fee of around £5million before next weekend’s transfer deadline.

 

So far, though, there has been no interest from would-be buyers.

 

Meanwhile Toon boss Keegan will make a personal plea to the FA in a bid to spare Joey Barton from a career-wrecking 15-game ban.

 

Soho Square chiefs are ready to throw the book at the shamed Newcastle star for his attack on former Manchester City team- mate Ousmane Dabo. Jailbird Barton faces a disciplinary hearing next week after admitting charges of violent conduct.

 

He could be suspended until Christmas for the training-ground assault that almost blinded Dabo in May last year.

 

Angry Newcastle fans demanded the £60,000- a-week midfielder should be sacked after his early release from prison in July following another assault.

 

But Keegan has backed Barton 100 per cent, insisting the 25-year-old should be given one last chance to rebuild his career.

 

The manager says he is ready to argue the player’s case to the FA, even if it means facing a backlash from the Toon Army.

 

Keegan said: “If required I will appear in person on his behalf.I did it in court so why am I not going to do it at the FA?

 

“If you support someone then you support them and if you believe someone’s turned the corner then what’s wrong with saying it?"

 

Some fantastic stuff by Rob Shepherd again. I especially like the "Reports that Newcastle are offering the England international a £140,000-a-week deal are grossly inaccurate" bit. It was your sister 'paper who madethe fucking thing up!

[Kid Dynamite 7354]

The Mail reckons we are offering £12mil for Malouda

[Guest alex]

The papers basically have no clue what is going on within the club, as this demonstrates.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

The papers basically have no clue what is going on within the club, as this demonstrates.

Nail/Head.

[JawD 99]

The papers basically have no clue what is going on within the club, as this demonstrates.

 

Exactly, its contradiction followed by counter contradiction week after week.

[Happy Face 29]

they better make him take a paycut...

basic decent wage but with clauses for if he plays he gets more, if he plays and scores he gets more etc

a straight wage of that sort of scale would be daft with his injury record

 

Haven't we received insurance payments when he's been injured?

 

Only 4 players managed more games than Owen last season.

 

He's now on 8 goals in his last 10 games. You don't think thats the kind of quality we should gladly pay through the nose for, rather than shite like Smith and Ameobi?

[Guest alex]

Ant has a blatant agenda when it comes to Owen.

[Besty 4]

Ant has a blatant agenda when it comes to Owen.

 

It's 'cause he's English man.

[Fop 1]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

[Guest alex]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

Textbook.

[luckyluke 2]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

 

I agree. I think Owen is the best player to wear an England shirt since Gazza.

[Deano 0]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

 

I agree. I think Owen is the best player to wear an England shirt since Gazza.

 

For i rate owen, i think ur statement is a BIG one! I know its all about opinions but thats just stupidity man!

[Happy Face 29]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

 

I agree. I think Owen is the best player to wear an England shirt since Gazza.

 

For i rate owen, i think ur statement is a BIG one! I know its all about opinions but thats just stupidity man!

 

It's between him and Beckham like.

 

EDIT: And Shearer.

 

EDIT: And Scholes.

Edited August 24, 2008 by Happy Face

[sammynb 3673]

Ant has a blatant agenda when it comes to Owen.

 

It's 'cause he's not Shay man.

 

fypfa

[Tooj 17]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

 

I agree. I think Owen is the best player to wear an England shirt since Gazza.

The Owen in his youth potentially was, but for me that goes to Paul Scholes.

 

I presume you mean since Gazza packed in btw? As if not it would obviously be Shearer.

[JonGoodwyn 1]

Anyone we would replace him with woudln't be anywhere near as good, and we'd have to pay stupid prices and wages to get that anyway - keep hold of the lad, I don't say it much about players , but hes worth it

[Happy Face 29]

we shouldn't be paying through the nose for shite like those two your right, that was bad business

we also shouldn't be paying through the nose for players who are sitting on the physio bench and no we don't get insurance payments for when he injures himself during our training or matches

 

 

sorry <50games since he signed for us in 2005 says he doesn't get a 100k+ a week basic wage deal...

"He's now on 8 goals in his last 10 game" and how many games has he missed including preseason picking up that tally...

 

 

I've no doubt Owen will score when he plays a string of games, i just doubt he's going to manage getting the string of games and dont want to be paying big wages for someone whose fit for a few thing picks up a niggle that keeps him our for a bit *rinse repeat*

in Owens entire career he has only managed to do 45+ games in two seasons in all competitions

 

He missed one competitive game picking up that tally. It came at the end of a string of 18 games.

 

He had a nightmare first 2 years, but he was player of the season last year if you ask me.

[Fop 1]

I can't see us getting anyone better than Owen, in fact I could easily see us paying more than £20m for someone not as good (not that I think we'd splurge that much, but if we did).

Textbook.

We would if we did, but we won't.

[2bias 3]

The Mail reckons we are offering £12mil for Malouda

interesting

[Papa Lazaru 0]

Ive always been a big fan of Owen and as people have said we will not be able to get anyone better than him to sign for us in our current state and even if we somehow managed it, they would cost a fortune. The guy is still one of the best finishers in the game and his off the ball movement and timing of runs to be in the right place are second to none.

 

This will be his last really big contract in his career so we're going to have to pay him well and i believe Ashley will get it sorted. Then we just have to hope he doesn't suffer anymore big injuries, because last season once he was over his major injury he put together a good run of appearances and can do again.

[ohhh_yeah 2993]

NEWCASTLE United have offered Michael Owen a one-year extension to his contract at £85,000 a week.

 

And it remains to be seen whether this is acceptable to Owen and his management team.

 

The move blows reports of a three-year deal worth £21m at £140,000-a-week out of the water.

 

A source close to the club told me today: “Newcastle want to keep Michael Owen, but they are only prepared to offer him another year after his contract runs out at the end of this season.”

 

 

chroniclelive

[Tooj 17]

NEWCASTLE United have offered Michael Owen a one-year extension to his contract at £85,000 a week.

 

And it remains to be seen whether this is acceptable to Owen and his management team.

 

The move blows reports of a three-year deal worth £21m at £140,000-a-week out of the water.

 

A source close to the club told me today: “Newcastle want to keep Michael Owen, but they are only prepared to offer him another year after his contract runs out at the end of this season.”

 

 

chroniclelive

Not true.

[Fop 1]

NEWCASTLE United have offered Michael Owen a one-year extension to his contract at £85,000 a week.

 

And it remains to be seen whether this is acceptable to Owen and his management team.

 

The move blows reports of a three-year deal worth £21m at £140,000-a-week out of the water.

 

A source close to the club told me today: “Newcastle want to keep Michael Owen, but they are only prepared to offer him another year after his contract runs out at the end of this season.”

 

 

chroniclelive

Not true.

 

It it were, then it's mental.

[tinofbeans 91]

the lads our best player, he deserves to be on the best wages. tie him to a deal based on goalscoring with a huge bounus per goal and a reduced basic wage. that'll motivate him to stay.

 

does anybody know what his goal bonus is because thats the starting point.

[ewerk 31660]

One year contract? That's mental, unless that's what his team have requested.