Stoke City: Goal ace Michael Owen on Tony Pulis's radar
STOKE City manager Tony Pulis admits he is keeping tabs on Michael Owen's availability this summer.
But he stopped short of revealing an imminent move for the former England striker.
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Michael Owen is a free agent after being released by Manchester United
Owen is a free agent after being released by Manchester United following a three-year stay at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old, who bagged 17 goals in 18 starts and a further 34 substitute appearances during his time with United, insists he will only consider playing for another Premier League club in this country.
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Pulis has inquired about Owen in the past and remains a distant admirer of the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star.
"Yes, we tried to find out what he was doing a couple of years ago," said Pulis, "but nothing came of it – and it was a couple of years ago.
"Everyone knows Michael's pedigree and the fact he has performed with such distinction at the highest level, for club and country.
"We are monitoring him, but along with about 400 other players to be honest, so it's a case of waiting to see what happens."
In many respects the Potteries would be a convenient move for Owen because of the location of his home in North Wales and his racing stables in Cheshire.
But his moderate playing record at United, plus Owen's likely pricey wage demands, would appear to remain a serious impediment to any deal with Stoke.
Meanwhile, Pulis believes Norwich's appointment of Chris Hughton as manager will minimise the upset caused by Paul Lambert's departure to Aston Villa.
And he understands the logic of Swansea seeking to replace Brendan Rodgers with Wigan number two Graeme Jones.
"Chris has done it at Newcastle, while he also spent many, many years at Tottenham, so he knows the game and knows the score.
"Graeme worked at Swansea under Roberto Martinez, so that is a club he already knows from back to front.
"His appointment would make sense if Swansea are looking for continuity and to carry on the good work down there."
MEANWHILE, Stoke have poached teenage defender Ben Glasgow from Arsenal as they set about building up their under-21s squad for next season.
Stoke nipped in for the 18-year-old right-back after Arsenal declined to offer him a full professional contract.
He has instead agreed a development contract at Stoke to play for their new under-21s team which will come into being next season if, as expected, the club wins Category A status for its Academy.
Stoke's Academy director David Wright said: "He is a player I have watched personally and, coming from Arsenal, he clearly has a fine background and pedigree.
"He is a London boy, but has played at youth level for Ireland."
Comments
by Davejjohnson
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:32PM
“Not interested Latthink, a ****** like you ain't worth the bother.”
by VantaaVale
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 1:10PM
“Vale fan in peace here!
I think Owen would be a poor signing for any Premiership club. His injury record speaks for itself and at 32 years of age, I cannot see that situation getting better.
Discarding the Sentinel statistics of 17 goals in 18 starts for Man Utd and looking at Premiership games he played over the past three seasons, his record is not exactly looking like a "goal ace"; played 31, scored 5.
Pulis' choice, I suppose. But wouldn't it be better to look at what Alan Pardew achieved last season at Newcastle as a better way forward, i.e. buying in players with a future?”
by Latthink
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:59AM
“Here we go again! Typical Johnson! What a moronic response, cant expect anything else. It all goes to prove everything I say about you so why dont you zip it?”
by Davejjohnson
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:34AM
“Makes me laugh Latthink how you seem to regard yourself as representing something decent. Everyone has their disagreements on this site but apart from you no one stoops so low as to describe methods that people who don't share our opinions should use to end their lives. It's probably because we are all basically decent people. Perhaps you should build a gas chamber and you could line us all up. You are a foul disgusting old man who is not fit to mix with most of the good people who comment on here.”
by Davejjohnson
Monday, June 11 2012, 7:57PM
“I don't see any abuse, just a few home truths about the stupidity of your own posts. Like your latest one, if I wanted to wire myself up to the mains then it only takes a matter of milli amps to kill. And it's not positive and negative it's live and neutral on an AC circuit. Stupid boring, senile old man, you can't even dish out your own abuse with any accuracy. You never have anything to say about football. Can't really use the words on this site to describe my true opinion of you but one of them sounds a bit like anchor.”
by Latthink
Monday, June 11 2012, 3:17PM
“Johnson, fix positive to your tongue and negative to the left big toe and switch on!
Its quite obvious that berks such as you delight in hading out the abuse, but like all bullies you cannot take it!
ABOUT 40 AMPS SHOULD DO THE TRICK! if you have any hair it may stand on end!”
by Davejjohnson
Sunday, June 10 2012, 6:25PM
“Latthink you are full of rubbish. Your own posts are generally pathetic nonsense so I don't see you as being fit to tell me, Mel or anyone else what to write. When have you ever written anything worthy of debate ? Most of the stuff you write is just cheap sarcastic nonsense.”
by wheatear
Sunday, June 10 2012, 12:24PM
“So you want to seek higher things? I can understand that when you look at the standard of most of your posts latthink. But to seek higher things I believe your comments about SCFC need to be constructive instead of damning. Half term report need more effort.”
by Latthink
Sunday, June 10 2012, 12:08PM
“Stonemel; dont waste your time being decent and offering logical debate, there is only one language Johnson and his cohorts understand, and that is to reciprocate the same sort of language that they use, but of course a little bit stronger!
ALTIORA, ALTIORA, ETIAM PETAMUS!”
by baystokie
Saturday, June 09 2012, 2:07PM
“'Moderate playing record at United'?
17 goals in 18 full starts isn't all that bad! The 34 substitute appearances could be anything from 10 minutes to 45 minutes so not sure how much 'game'time they equate to. To be fair, United's playing style does lead to scoring opportunities for themselves whilst ours is designed to minimise those opportunities - for our opponents. Our forwards(?) are allowed the odd journey over the half way line as long as they remember to come back at the first sign of danger
Of course, we are overloaded with strikers, eg Crouch and ?? whose scoring record has gained them nationwide recognition. Apart from Crouch, most of our front(?) players have been 'on strike' for most of the past season.
Owen would be just another round peg for one of Tony's round holes”