[lfc-news] Owen in bid for Anfield return - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 15 July 2005
Owen in bid for Anfield return
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

MICHAEL OWEN is desperate to make a sensational return to Liverpool.

The former Reds striker wants to end his Real Madrid exile and Anfield
officials have been alerted to Owen's fervent desire to rejoin the club
he left last summer.

A dramatic swoop hasn't been ruled out.

However, Rafa Benitez has already made other arrangements in the
transfer market and would need convincing to move for the 25-year-old
striker.

The European Champions have not budgeted for a bid for Owen, who joined
the club as a schoolboy but decided to leave for Spain in an £8m deal
last year.

Although Benitez could be in the hunt for a proven goalscorer before the
transfer window closes, that would depend on how much he could raise in
player sales.

His first priority is a target man, with Southampton's Peter Crouch
still top of his wish list.

Liverpool are interested in the possibility of arranging a year loan
deal with Real Madrid for Owen, but that would require some skilful
negotiation and appears to be an extremely optimistic option at this stage.

Owen left with the Real Madrid squad for a summer tour of America
yesterday, but he's anxious to return to England before the start of the
season - and Liverpool are currently the only club which interests him.

Model professional Owen has never publicly expressed any discontent
about life in Madrid, but privately he's become increasingly
disillusioned since leaving England.

On the pitch, Owen's goal record defies the accepted view he's failed to
make an impact in Spain.

He scored 14 goals in 22 starts, but he's never completely settled and
has found himself regularly on the bench, despite his impressive goal ratio.

Owen scored 158 goals in 298 appearances of an Anfield career which
began in 1997 and is seventh on the list of the club's all time goalscorers.

Meanwhile, the Luis Figo saga should be resolved this weekend.

The only issue now is Figo's pay-off from Real Madrid.

The Spanish club are no longer demanding a fee for the Portuguese star.

The 32-year-old midfielder is in the United States but will leave the
Madrid tour when he's decided between Liverpool and Inter Milan.

The Reds are now in Switzerland preparing for the clash with Bayer
Leverkusen in Austria tomorrow night.

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