OTHER SPORT

BIG FOUR TO SNUB OWEN

Michael Owen is nearing full fitness

Tuesday May 22,2007

By Niall Hickman

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Michael Owen’s hopes of a move to a ‘big four’ club this summer have hit a snag – none of them seem to want him.

Owen’s agents have tested the water to see if any of the top teams – Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – are willing to take him from St James’ Park, but so far none has shown any inclination to sign him, although United did have his comeback game at Reading watched.

Part of the reason is Owen’s whopping £5million-a-year wages and the fact that he has barely played any football in the past four seasons.

Owen has started only 13 games in two years at Newcastle United and before that he was a fringe member of the Real Madrid team.

Reports yesterday that Arsenal are planning to tempt him away from Tyneside are almost certainly wide of the mark as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger showed no interest in taking Owen two years ago when he was available.

Considering Owen has largely been out through injury since then he is hardly likely to have changed his mind.

Owen has yet to meet new Magpies boss Sam Allardyce to discuss his future.

But chairman Freddy Shepherd was furious that he was being touted around the top echelons of the Premiership a fortnight ago by his advisers.

Shepherd wants to see some loyalty from Owen – who has been paid his £100,000-a-week wages over the last two years despite missing so much football – but it is the fact that no one has come in for him that could mean he stays at St James’ Park.