Stoke City: Pulis hopes to seal a deal with Michael Owen
STOKE City were today hoping to hold off late interest from Liverpool in the race to sign free agent Michael Owen.
Chairman Peter Coates has given boss Tony Pulis the green light to sign the player providing the former England striker's demands are acceptable to the club's wage structure.
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WANTED MAN: Stoke face competition from fellow Premier outfit Liverpool for the signature of striker Michael Owen.
Stoke are prepared to offer Owen a contract with a pay-as-you-play element.
However, Liverpool's striker crisis has left Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers considering a move for the 32-year-old striker.
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Rogers had planned to sign Clint Dempsey from Fulham, but Liverpool's £3m offer was rejected so Dempsey moved to Tottenham in a £6m deal instead.
That has left Rodgers short of strikers after he agreed to let Andy Carroll join West Ham on a season-long loan.
Stoke would like the Owen deal done in time for today's 5pm deadline for submitting Premier League squads of up to 25 names.
Sunderland are among the group of other clubs interested in Owen following their own failure to land Dempsey. However, the striker would prefer to find a club near his home in the North West.
City have been the bookmakers' favourites to sign Owen ever since he was released by Manchester United at the end of last season.
But the Potters are pursuing Owen on an appearance related deal, similar to the arrangement they had with Jonathan Woodgate in his 12 months at Stoke.
City want to protect themselves because of Owen's fitness record.
The striker only played four games for Manchester United last season, but says he was left out rather than ruled out through injury for parts of the campaign.
However, the striker's pedigree is not in doubt. Owen scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for his country, making him England's fourth-highest goalscorer behind only Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48) and Jimmy Greaves (44).
Stoke are keen to improve their record in front of goal having only netted 39 goals in their last 41 Premier League games.
Tony Pulis has attempted to address that by bringing in creative midfielder Charlie Adam from Liverpool for a £4m deal. However, the manager has made no secret of his desire to add Owen to his squad.
Now he's been given clearance by Coates to try to make Owen his seventh signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Jamie Ness, Geoff Cameron, Michael Kightly, Maurice Edu, Adam and Steven Nzonzi.
Owen netted 158 goals in just 297 games for Liverpool, but some fans of the Merseyside club will have reservations about re-signing him because he chose to play for their arch rivals Manchester United.
Owen is one of a handful of strikers with experience in the top flight who are still available as free agents outside the transfer window.
Others available include 32-year-old former Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic and Owen's 34-year-old former England strike-partner Emile Heskey.
Comments
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 7:08PM
“Off the bench no other ideas at all, just what you would expect of TP anything else and he has bigger plans for MO than we expect!”
by jtflint2010
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 6:59PM
“Alright, going to ask a question of you all. Next match-day we will have Michael Owen available, would you start him or bring him on off the bench? As Obama mentioned bringing him off the bench would be an idea for the romantics, plus it could be wise considering his lack of match-fitness. Anyone have different opinions?”
by CptFurious
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 6:21PM
“Owen has signed a 1 year deal beating of interest allegedly from Galatasary and Sunderland.
Apart from the full back positions we now have a squad of big recognisable names, with some to spare on the bench! Goes to show how far we've come as a club.
Hopefully these new signings and the current big name players will prove their reputation and will help us progress further as a team and the full back issues will be sorted in January.
Great signings this summer Mr Pulis!”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 6:07PM
“Its official he has signed for a year
Further proof of how far this club of ours has travelled in the last five years, this can only be good for us!
Great news”
by meyanaryewth
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:52PM
“lets face it Owen is not going to be offered silly money at 32 years of age but if he can help add to our dismal goal scoring record he will be a good signing,i think he has got another good season or two left in him and if SCFC can be the beneficiary its got to be a good thing.
TP has done well in the market in my eyes and i think we can go on from here and build into a good upper half team with a good sound financial team behind it, we will not be like a lot of teams who will go under again due to trying to spend money they have not got.
In Coates and TP we trust, well i do.................”
by Obama4prez
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:34PM
“So what if he fancies a punt - they will just dock it from his pay packet !”
by jtflint2010
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:22PM
“Would really love that Obama! Would settle for him nicking a 1-0 for us though!”
by meirhayflyer
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:20PM
“this signing reminds me of the geoff hurst signing in 1970's good player past his best but was fab at victoria ground. Fab signing TP”
by leglessharry
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:19PM
“Fool! Owen wants the football contract. He is a footballer after all. Not that you'd know it from the last 4 years. But the Coates betting operation will be the main beneficiary. Mark my words.”
by Obama4prez
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 5:15PM
“Lets all hope he's healthy and does not need a Stoke get-fit-quick fitness plan for the next two or three months - we really need him to hit the ground running. Correct me if I am wrong but I recall him bagging his first goal at Old Trafford in the Prem - the winner - in a thrilling 4-3 win over Man City - who's our next opponents ? History repeats ?”