Owen could finally help Liverpool win the title
Add comment July 3rd, 2009
Yesterday I pondered who Manchester United might sign, what with Real Madrid hoovering up the world’s attacking talent. Then last night news broke that Michael Owen is just a medical away from joining United. Frankly, I’m speechless, but I suppose it must be nice for Owen that in after all these years he’s now likely to be a key factor in Liverpool regaining the league title.
United’s decision is in part prompted by Real Madrid’s swoop for Karim Benzema – a move which has also left our own Arsene Wenger out in the cold. Speaking to RMC about which French players he might wish to sign, Arsene said:
“There is one who interested me but he left for Madrid. I did not make of approach because I would never have thought that Lyon would sell this year.”
Le Boss also spoke out about some of the less certain futures of some squad members:
“Inter have not inquired about Gallas, just like Bordeaux has never asked for [Mikael] Silvestre. Adebayor? If he does not want to stay, he will leave but I think that he will be still at Arsenal this season.”
What he says about Adebayor is a tacit admission that he is not determined to keep him. He could easily say, “Adebayor is not for sale”. Instead, if he has somewhere to go, he is free to. Marouane Chamakh has been talked of as a potential replacement, and Arsene said nothing to dispell that when asked if the striker was a target:
“Yes, but only in the event of a departure.”
One to watch.
The Sun claim Barcelona are tapping up Cesc Fabregas in public, which may well be a contradiction in terms. President Joan Laporta says:
“As I’ve said many times, Cesc has Barcelona in his DNA and I think that one day he should play for Barca. We all like him very much — he’s always been in our thoughts.”
Cesc has made his position clear several times already this summer. I’m sure he’ll return to Barca eventually, but not just now.
Felipe Melo’s agent has confirmed what we already new: he is staying at Fiorentina until after the World Cup. I’m starting to have those age old worries that we won’t actually buy a central midfielder. There’s no substance to that, so don’t panic just yet…
One midfielder who will hope to play more games next season is Jack Wilshere, who follows Aaron Ramsey in signing a long-term contract with the club. Jack is a special talent, and a future star of this side. I can’t wait to watch his grow into a first-team player.
Arsenal are reportedly considering Alisher Usmanov’s proposal to underwrite a £100m rights issue. This, I can absolutely guarantee you, will not happen. The board will not agree to such a proposal, largely because of the credibility it would grant Usmanov. And when you read further down this article about UEFA’s determination to level football’s playing field, we may soon have even less need for the Uzbek.
I hope it’s a bit less hot in London today. Yesterday it felt like someone had replaced all my bones with heating elements.
