[lfc-news] Reds cool over Owen - Echo

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's
'Thanks & Giving.'
http://us.click.yahoo.com/6iY7fA/5WnJAA/Y3ZIAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Liverpool Echo, 8 April 2005
Reds cool over Owen
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL won't rush into giving Michael Owen an escape route from Real
Madrid back to Anfield, despite having first option to resign the striker.

Owen was today quoted saying he'd welcome a return to Merseyside having
been given few opportunities to show his class in Spain.

But despite being in the market for a striker this summer, Rafa Benitez
isn't convinced his transfer resources should be allocated to bringing
the former Kop idol home.

Not only would Real Madrid expect the £8m they paid for the 25-year-old,
Owen's wages would make him a top earner at the club.

Benitez has been scouting other targets all season and, while noting
Owen's comments, does not see this as the green light to launch what
some may believe an inevitable swoop.

Owen is sure to attract interest from other Premiership clubs, with
Newcastle currently leading the chase, and there is no doubt Liverpool
will monitor developments closely.

However, Owen would have to accept a considerable reduction in salary if
he wants a return to Anfield.

That makes an emotional comeback an unlikely prospect at this stage.

The 25-year-old said today: "Would I return to Liverpool? I would have
nothing against it if I had to move for one reason or another.

"I left Liverpool on good terms, they are still the first result I look
out for and I have a lot of friends there.

"I have no bitterness at all to Liverpool and they are still a club very
close to my heart.

"It's well documented I don't like sitting on the bench, so let's hope
things improve."

Liverpool agreed the first refusal clause for Owen when he was sold last
August, but there was no set fee within that deal.

Meanwhile, Valencia president Juan Soler claims he is in talks with
Liverpool striker Milan Baros.

Soler told Valencia-based Radio 9 that the Czech international was one
of several targets for the summer as Los Che attempt to strengthen
following a disappointing season.

He said: "We are negotiating with the Czech (Baros) and with four or
five players of the same quality. These players are from Europe and
South America and we are trying to do things in plenty of time, both
with Baros and with the others."

Valencia's former coach Claudio Ranieri embarked on a spending spree in
the summer with the likes of Marco Di Vaio, Bernardo Corradi and Stefano
Fiore all arriving at the Mestalla.

But the policy of recruiting Italians failed to reap the required
rewards and Ranieri paid for the failure with his job.

And Soler admitted several members of the first team squad would be
leaving at the end of the current campaign.

He added: "Some of the players who are coming are going to replace those
who are already here, so it is for the best that we do not speak too
much about the subject.

"I don't want the team to lose concentration as we aim for our objective
of returning to Europe."

Vladimir Smicer admits he's resigned to leaving Anfield at the end of
the season after the club made no approach to renew his Liverpool contract.

Smicer has been linked to former club Lens, but could remain in England.

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/