I would never do a Bosman, promises Owen

'As it stands,' said Owen, 'I do see myself at Liverpool this time next year. I've always said I'm ambitious, that I want to win things. I've got quite a nice collection of medals but it's not as good as some players I know and there are a few out there I'd still like to get.

'We've entered the discussions and at this early stage it's all about what's happening at the club, where we're going. It's not about the money. I want to be successful. I've never wanted anything else. But this talk of funds for the manager to spend is fantastic news. I don't think it's on the scale of Chelsea but let's hope it enables us to build the brilliant new stadium we want and get in some new players. It sounds like the club mean business. Hopefully we're going places.

' We certainly need to improve. The manager knows that. In that respect I'm not anything different from him, or Steven Gerrard.

'Even if we come fourth and qualify for the Champions-League, it's still a season we will want to put behind us. We haven't won a trophy and we're so far behind the top three. We need to close that gap.'

Owen was his usual garrulous self, fielding questions from the shape of the England midfield to the recent problems in his private life.

The horrific riding accident that left his girlfriend Louise Bonsall with a fractured pelvis, and the attack on his sister while she was driving her car, are thought to be factors in why he seems keen to shelve plans for a move abroad. He has realised the value of having his family around him, as well as the familiar faces he encounters in his professional life.

'A lot has happened off the pitch,' he said. 'It hasn't affected my performances on the pitch. I would never use that as an excuse. But my girlfriend suffered a very bad fall and she was on her back for a long time. She's walking again now and we all hope she will be able to live her life normally again. We also had the attack on my sister, when someone tried to take her car.' Owen says he now prefers to look to the future, and with the European Championship coming up next month, he says he has reason to be optimistic.

He believes the injury problems he has endured this season will leave England with a 'fresh' Michael Owen in Portugal, while he has been just as encouraged by the form of his international colleagues. 'Steven Gerrard has been outstanding this season,' he said. 'In fact, I've never played with anyone like him.

'Frank Lampard has grown out of all proportion. It would be interesting to see them in a midfield together.

'And even though we're missing a couple of central defenders, I still think we've got two of the best in Europe in Sol Campbell and John Terry.

' France have to be the favourites but I believe we can win it. We're the right age and we've been together for some time.'

Liverpool can only hope that Umbro's 'global icon' soon regards his club side in much the same way.