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.