Inter Target Owen In Suazo Swap Deal?

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Newcastle United striker Michael Owen, who is out of contract at St James’ Park at the end of the season has been linked with a move to Serie A Champions Inter Milan in January, with David Suazo currently on loan at Benfica due to come the other way as part of a swap deal for the England International.

Nerazzurri coach Jose Mourinho has identified a striker as a main target to add to his squad at the San Siro next month. Despite having a wealth of strikers available at the Italian club, Mourinho is looking for someone to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is the top-scorer for Inter this season with 10 goals, while the next best tally belongs to Julio Cruz, with 2 goals this campaign.

Although it is understood that Didier Drogba at his former club Chelsea is Mourinho’s main target. Mourinho has resigned himself to waiting until the summer for a reunion with the Ivory Coast International.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho sees former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Owen as an ideal short-term solution and is willing to let Suazo move in the opposite direction in order to make the deal go through. However, whether the Magpies decide to let Owen leave Newcastle or have the striker at the Premier League club until the summer, when Owen can leave for nothing remains to be seen.

Kinnear Resigned To Losing Newcastle Striker

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that England International Michael Owen is looking at options away from St James’ Park, with the striker due to be offered an extension to his current contract at the Premier League club next week, which expires at the end of the season.

28-year-old Owen is among four players at the Magpies, who are out out of contact in the summer, with Nicky Butt, Shola Ameobi and steve harper also set to be offered new deals by Kinnear next week.

However, while Kinnear is confident that Harper, Ameobi and Butt, will all sign new contracts with the North East club the Toon chief is less upbeat about his chances of keeping former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Owen at St James’ Park.

Kinnear said: “We have heard lots of things, that Michael's agent has had lots of clubs on to him.

“Obviously, they will want to know what type of contract we are going to offer him.

“I won't go into those details now, but we will be offering him what we consider an excellent contract considering the climate of what is happening around all football clubs.

“But it will be up to Michael to make that decision.

“I am pretty confident that Shola Ameobi, Steve Harper and Nicky Butt will sign, it's now just down to Michael.

"Michael is well aware of that, so is his agent. They are well aware of my feelings on that, but the ball is in his court.

“I will find out, hopefully, on Tuesday.

"I'm not confident to be honest. I'm pretty confident about everybody else, but Michael is a different kettle of fish.

“He is looking at his options, I assume, but I won't go into those details until Tuesday.”

Owen To Get Take It Or Leave It Deal At Newcastle

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Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnaer is set to offer England International striker Michael Owen a take it or leave it deal after the Magpies Premier League clash with Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday.

28-year-old Newcastle captain Owen’s current deal with the Toon runs out at the end of the season and talks about extending the former Liverpool and Real Madrid players stay at St James’ Park have been put on hold until now.

Owen is one of four Newcastle players out of contract at the North East club next year, with Shola Ameobi, Steve Harper and Nicky Butt also coming to the end of their present deals at the Premiership club.

Manchester United along with Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with a move for Owen next month in recent weeks, but Kinnear has revealed that he wants all four to stay at Newcastle, with captain Owen his biggest concern following the speculation surrounding his future at the Magpies.

Kinnear said: “I would like to get all players out of contract at the moment signed up this week.

“I have spent the last three or four days discussing offers on the table with the four players I want to stay and once I get those out of way I will look at the transfer market and I am then pretty confident I will have two new faces.

“The squad would be stronger with players back from injury but I need reinforcements that is for sure.

“I will put the ball in the players' court and offers will be made and then it is up to them to let me know if they will accept them.”

However, while Kinnear has declared that it will be up to Owen and the others if they accept new deals, Kinnear also insisted that Newcastle, will not be selling any of their best players, with Newcastle battling relegation from the Premier League.

“We won't be selling anybody here until we are out of the position we are in. We are fighting relegation with 10 others and I don't see the point in getting rid of our best players,” he added.

Owen Set For Newcastle Exit

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England International striker Michael Owen will not be signing a new contract at Premier League club Newcastle United, with Magpies boss Joe Kinnear admitting that Owen will be talking to other clubs in January.

Resigned to losing former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Owen, Kinnear has also revealed that, several other players at St James’ Park, who like 28-year-old Owen are in the final year of their contracts are set to decide on their futures at the North East club. These players include goalkeeper Steve Harper, strikers Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi along with former Manchester United player Nicky Butt.

Reports earlier this week said that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is ready to hand Kinnear £12million to spend on new players in January, but whoever departs or arrives at St James’ Park in January, Owen (left) will not be a Magpies player next season.

Kinnear told the Newcastle Journal: “I've not really had a chance to talk to the players about their contracts and I don't know what is going to happen. The players who are out of contract, I have spoken to a few of their agents. They are holding back as well. They are waiting to see what their options are in January and who comes in for them. They will make a decision then.

“I'm speaking to Shola's agent on Monday so we will see what happens there, but there isn't much I can do if the players have decided they want to see what else is there for them in January.

“I just hope I can get the players in I want because if we can get them we'll be smoking.”

Kinnear, who took over from Kevin Keegan at the Toon in September has also claimed that talks are underway to bring two transfer targets to the Premier League in January at £6million each. Money that was originally thought to not be available due to owner Mike Ashley’s eagerness to sell the Premiership club.

He added: "I have had a positive meeting with him [Ashley]. I put the case for bringing players in and we are talking to some players and their agents and clubs. We have to be ready when the window opens. I would like two to three players.

"I have given them the prices. I told them two players who cost six million each, which is £12m. He said fine, leave it with me. I will come back to you. There are players available who will help us and we will have to wait and see because I don't want to say much more.

“Mike was fine with it. We have got one who is 'umming and aah-ing, but we are still banging on the door and he is still a player we have identified.

“Instead of cash the club decided they'd come in for one of our players in an exchange. That would leave us stronger in one area and weaker in another. It would be straight swap. I am not sure we would benefit from losing another player.”