Michael Owen is set to be shown the door at Old Trafford. The former England international could have his United career brought to an end as early as next month – or at the end of the season.
Owen has been pushed towards the exit by the red hot form of Dimitar Berbatov and Mexican sensation Javier Hernandez.
With Federico Macheda tipped for big things by Sir Alex Ferguson and Danny Welbeck set to return from a season-long loan at Sunderland in the summer, Owen has finally had to accept that his Old Trafford career is over.
United will listen to offers in the January transfer window, with Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier likely to be at the head of the queue for the player he had at Liverpool.
Ferguson believed Owen’s experience could prove crucial to his strike force when signing him in a controversial deal two summers ago.
That proved to be the case with the former Real Madrid and Newcastle hitman scoring vital goals against City and in the Carling Cup final last season.
But with Berbatov finally finding consistency and Hernandez’s stunning introduction to the Premier League since his arrival in the summer, Owen’s opportunities have all but dried up.
Ferguson has traditionally operated with a pool of four strikers but currently has five at club, with Welbeck set to return.
Even Berbatov had to settle for a place on the bench when United beat Arsenal at the start of the month – only emphasising how fierce the competition is for starting places up front.
Ferguson believes the Bulgarian – who with 13 goals has already is just one off his best in either of his previous seasons at the club – can go on to score 25 this term and fire United to the title.
"There are certain games when we like to play one up front and three central midfield players, Dimitar understands that," he said. "But his form has been terrific. He is on 13 goals now. If he can get us to 25, we need one more to get around that figure, then we will have a good chance."
Assistant manager Mike Phelan added: "Everybody talks about Dimitar for different reasons. But when he’s on song, scoring goals and creating chances, that’s the Berbatov we all want to see."
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Well Owen is quality but Hernandez is United to the core and is the future,we need to here about which midfielders are coming in.Several players are leaving thats for sure.However Tom could do Unioted a big favour and stick it to Arsenal it will be a good test for him!
we should keep him until june. bring back welbeck then send out macheda on loan
Cannot see where he fits in, nor why he would want to stay now if he is still serious about his football. Chico is the future and that 3rd spot is his, - Macheda will not improve unless he gets games the way Nani, now Ando , and Welbeck have shown -so maybe he should go on loan for 6 months - either way with Welbeck coming back we presume and the emergence of youngsters id let him go -and if nothing else lets have him off the wage bill.
I can understand him wanting first team football,still for me when fit there is not many better when it comes to finishing,I would like to keep him but at his age he needs to play regular,good luck Michael forever a Hero for your "96th" minute winner against the Vermin.
Good luck to you Michael.A true gentleman and pro!!
Classic douchebag attitude, Sir Alex Ferguson only said the other day that Owen is going nowhere so some journo writes a story claiming Owen is gone in January, can anyone say idiot (yes James, talking about you here). I'll take the word of the greatest manager of all time over a penpusher every time, sorry James.
The truth is Michael Owen is well past it and has been for the last few years.SAF took a gamble that has not paid off.Michael should now hang up his boots.
Fergie said only yesterday that he wasn't going anywhere - where do they get these stories from with no quotes or facts to back them up!
Didn't Ferguson say as late as last week that Owen wasn't going anywhere? Or was that just regarding a possible loan spell? I think Owen has qualities which could prove vital in a long season, but if he's going to be plagued with injuries he might as well try to get some playing time elsewhere. He showed away at Bolton though, what he has to offer with a brilliant header. I'd like to see him stay and grab a winner against Liverpool in the FA cup tie.
Redundancy notices have started early at the theartre of debt. Well at least they gave you till after xmas Michael
. Should only be a few more to put things right, like Shrek, Berbaflop. Giggs and the Salford half of the chuckle brothers Neville and of course Van der Woops who has applied for the attendance allowance at the end of the season then the rags will be on course for the barron years to come.
"United will listen to offers for Owen..." Hilarious. They'll be lucky to give him away for free, and will almost certainly have to pay a chunk of his wages. No doubt the usual suspects (i.e. Everton) will take United's rubbish off their hands.
Owen will forever be associated with underachievement !
Chicharito, Macheda and Welbeck are the future of Manchester United, Owen is not going anywhere in January and that is a fact. Whiles I am here I will also state that I do not believe Rooney is on £250kpw but more like the reported £160kpw as I fail to believe United would pay anyone £250kpw so can everyone stop saying he's on £250k as we dont know what he gets. Chicharito is the Chosen One sent from the heavens above to help United dominate for the next decade. The future is Red.
Owen's on a "pay when you play" deal so he wont want to be bench warming. He is very money driven. He has fond memories of playing under Houlier at Liverpool and some playing time at Villa may help him find a little form in the twilight of his career.
Owen won't be going anywhere til the summer, Welbeck will take his place next season...
It was only a few days ago I was reading comments attributed to Alex Ferguson in the very same Manchester Evening News that Owen is going NOWHERE because Ferguson says Owen has a valuable role to play in the title run in.
Don't believe everything you read folks!
Michael. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for that precious goal you scored on 20th September 2009 95 minutes and 28 seconds into the game.
What ever route you take I wish you good luck. You are a role model to young footballers up and down this country of today.
oh well.....
Fergie says one thing journos say different. Incredible really. No wonder the manager was annoyed at his press conference. Nuff said.
Poor signing really. His only asset was his pace and he lost that years ago. Sure he will only be remembered for his goal against the bitters, but it's well known that his heart lies in Liverpool. Cheerio Michael and good riddance.
At best now Owen is a bit player..and an injury prone one at that. There was a time when he was feared by most defenders, but those day's are now history.Should the time come when we need a forward on the pitch for the last 15/20,assuming the main 3 and Macheda are otherwise engaged..give young Will Keane an invaluable insight into the big time.
Having said that...the goal against the whingers in the 156th minute at Old Trafford was priceless..if only to see the look of despair at the saddo's in bitter blue!
the old back heel - Tevez is reported to be on £250-280kpw but I was on about Rooney, not Tevez....Rooney is most likely on £160kpw, I suggest some folk stop believing the papers all the time. Owen is going nowhere in January, I hear Villa and Westham are interested but who cares as Owen is going nowhere. The future for United is bright and trophy galore, a 3rd straight decade of dominance is upon us. Now I suggest the bitters on this page returns to the darkside and for once focus on poor little City.
Is there a source for this story or is it just a journo hunch? I suspect the latter.
As it happens, I suspect Owen will leave in the summer, simply because with the return of Welbeck, we will have too many strikers, even if Macheda goes out on loan. But I doubt he will be going anywhere in January, unless he asks to leave.
rubbish 'journalism' at its desperate worst! doh!
Although he is not the player he was in his youth, Michael is still capable of scoring goals and that is an attribute that many would covet if United ever thought to sell him. However, he would probably only merit a fee in the £3m-£5m region and, if that was the case, I think it would be far more beneficial to hold onto Michael, at least until the summer. Last season , the absence of Rooney cost us dear and, if Michael hadn't himself been injured, I suspect we would have gone on to win the EPL. Whatever happens with Owen, you have to say that he has been a credit during his stay - he has never 'sounded off' when left out, has been complimentary about the club and its personnel and he has handled himself like the gentleman he undoubtedly is. A really good signing by SAF!