Newcastle United made an astonishing U-turn on Saturday night in order to get England International Michael Owen to stay at St James’ Park, with rumours circulating that the striker was ready to leave the Magpies amidst reports that owner Mike Ashley wanted the former Liverpool player to take a pay cut.
The Toon issued a statement revealing that 28-year-old Owen would be offered a new three-year deal, with the North East club also revealing that they are to increase the forward’s £5million-a-year wages.
This is a dramatic change from last week, when Ashley reportedly only offered Owen a one-year contract worth £80,000-a-week. Which would have seen the England man take a £1million-a-year pay cut.
This alerted other clubs to Owen’s situation, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur reportedly very interested in bringing the striker to White Hart Lane. Owen would be free to sign a pre-contract deal with any club from January and could leave Newcastle for free next summer as he has just one year left on his present deal.
Toon manager Kevin Keegan, having just sold James Milner to Aston Villa would face a revolt from the fans should Owen leave to. Especially if the club was seen to help in that exit by not doing everything they could to keep the player they signed from Real Madrid for £16million in 2005.
However, despite Owen being likely to sign a new deal. It is rumoured that the player wants a return to a club in the North West, with Owen desperate to rejoin the club that made him a world star and make a return to Anfield. So it remains to be seen if Ashley’s new offer will be enough to keep him at Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Keegan is believed to be about to make a late move for Wigan Athletic target man Emile Heskey. With Heskey already a proven partner for Owen at International level, where they have played together many times. However, Newcastle could face competition from Spurs, who have also been linked with Heskey.
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