Madrid go for Owen

Madrid bound? Michael Owen

14 April 2012

Michael Owen was in talks with Real Madrid over a dramatic £25million move to the Bernabeu last night after Liverpool chiefs handed him an ultimatum over his Anfield future.

Real are believed to have made an approach for Owen over the weekend and his Anfield bosses reacted by demanding an end to his contract saga and telling him: 'It's them or us, and we need an answer in the next 48 hours.'

A stunned Owen indicated an interest in speaking with Real officials and is believed to have been given permission to open discussions over personal terms ahead of Liverpool's Champions' League qualifier with Graz AK here in Austria tonight.

Significantly, Owen's father Terry, who is taking a more active role in the 24-year-old's affairs, withdrew at the last moment from the trip to Graz and was thought to be involved with negotiating the overall package that could lead to Liverpool's England marksman becoming a Real player, alongside his international team-mate David Beckham, in the next day or so.

Owen was being kept informed of developments in a move that was triggered by a clear signal in Madrid that Ronaldo is bound for Italy's Serie A, probably when the next transfer window opens in January.

As they closed in on a daring raid that promises to send shock waves through Anfield, they made it clear to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez that he could take his pick of Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o or Fernando Morientes and add either £ 15million- rated marksman to £10m in cash.

Real own a £7m stake in Eto'o and would have to pay his coowners Real Mallorca £8m to push any deal through. While Mallorca would be happy simply to take the money, Real chief Florentino Perez is fearful that Barcelona may yet complicate matters by stepping up their pursuit of Eto'o or even trying to sabotage their efforts to capture Owen.

Real are in pole position, though, after identifying Owen's pace and finishing as the ideal foil for Raul and pressing ahead with ambitious plans to make him part of a double signing with Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira.

As Owen pondered his next move, he was coming under mounting pressure to deliver an answer before tonight's opening leg with Austria's League and Cup double winners.

Benitez insisted that Owen was on his Liverpool team sheet but acknowledged that it was subject to change. Real do not want Liverpool's record scorer in Europe to be cup-tied and expect a decision today.

Though Benitez is convinced he is on the verge of bolstering his squad with the addition of Real Sociedad midfielder Xavi Alonso and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, he would risk his standing with Liverpool fans by allowing Owen to follow Danny Murphy out of Anfield.

Their departure would inevitably raise misgivings over Steven Gerrard's future and leave the England midfielder reflecting on his last-minute change of heart during the summer that kept him at Liverpool when he looked certain to join Chelsea.

Benitez said last night: 'When I arrived, I knew Michael wanted to stay here. One month later, I know he is very happy with the way we train and prepare for things.

'Do I want him to stay? I always want good players at the club. At the moment, Michael is on the list for the game - but you can never say anything definite until the match comes round.'

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David Jones (Footballer)

Madrid go for Owen

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