Bellamy out, Owen in?
Summer Swap Shop
Sunday, 1st April 2007
Liverpool's Craig Bellamy is set for a shock summer move back to Newcastle United as part of a swap deal that will see Michael Owen return to Anfield.
Bellamy (27) fell out of favour at St James' Park after a number of reported bust-ups with ex-Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness and his backroom staff, but he still has a lot of friends at Newcastle, and non more so than Shay Given who he shared a post-match drink with after the recent Euro qualifier at Croke Park between Ireland and Wales. Given was overheard to say that Craig would be welcomed with open arms by the players and that is believed to have persuaded him to go back.
The Welsh forward was loaned out to Celtic for the final four months of season 2004/05 before being transferred to Blackburn Rovers for £5m, where he remained until his £6m move to Liverpool last summer.
Michael Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in Rafa's first season at Anfield and consequently missed out on a Champions League winners medal. He only stayed at the Bernabéu for one season and despite scoring 13 goals in La Liga he was never first choice and spent more time than he anticipated on the bench.
He was close to rejoining Liverpool last summer but a late bid of £16m by Newcastle United and a lot of persuasion by Alan Shearer saw him move to the North East. Injury nearly cost him his World Cup place, but he managed to recover in time to get on the plane. It was not going to be a happy World Cup though as he ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament against Sweden.
He has yet to play this season and has spent a lot of time around Melwood during his recovery. Liverpool's new owners Hicks and Gillett have already met Rafa Benítez and several senior players and Owen's name cropped up as one of Rafa's 'possibilities'. Rafa has been told that if he wants the England striker back at Anfield then money will not be a problem.
Bellamy's days at Anfield were numbered when he allegedly used John Arne Riise as target practice and will be used as a makeweight to bring Owen back home.
The transfer fee is reportedly £9m plus Bellamy, Owen will sign a four-year contract and will take a pay-cut in order for his dream move back to Anfield a reality.
With the return of Djibril Cissé, after his loan period in France, Rafa could finally see the strike force he envisaged when joining Liverpool 3 years ago.
CLICKY
and
CLICKY
Sunday, 1st April 2007
Liverpool's Craig Bellamy is set for a shock summer move back to Newcastle United as part of a swap deal that will see Michael Owen return to Anfield.
Bellamy (27) fell out of favour at St James' Park after a number of reported bust-ups with ex-Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness and his backroom staff, but he still has a lot of friends at Newcastle, and non more so than Shay Given who he shared a post-match drink with after the recent Euro qualifier at Croke Park between Ireland and Wales. Given was overheard to say that Craig would be welcomed with open arms by the players and that is believed to have persuaded him to go back.
The Welsh forward was loaned out to Celtic for the final four months of season 2004/05 before being transferred to Blackburn Rovers for £5m, where he remained until his £6m move to Liverpool last summer.
Michael Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in Rafa's first season at Anfield and consequently missed out on a Champions League winners medal. He only stayed at the Bernabéu for one season and despite scoring 13 goals in La Liga he was never first choice and spent more time than he anticipated on the bench.
He was close to rejoining Liverpool last summer but a late bid of £16m by Newcastle United and a lot of persuasion by Alan Shearer saw him move to the North East. Injury nearly cost him his World Cup place, but he managed to recover in time to get on the plane. It was not going to be a happy World Cup though as he ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament against Sweden.
He has yet to play this season and has spent a lot of time around Melwood during his recovery. Liverpool's new owners Hicks and Gillett have already met Rafa Benítez and several senior players and Owen's name cropped up as one of Rafa's 'possibilities'. Rafa has been told that if he wants the England striker back at Anfield then money will not be a problem.
Bellamy's days at Anfield were numbered when he allegedly used John Arne Riise as target practice and will be used as a makeweight to bring Owen back home.
The transfer fee is reportedly £9m plus Bellamy, Owen will sign a four-year contract and will take a pay-cut in order for his dream move back to Anfield a reality.
With the return of Djibril Cissé, after his loan period in France, Rafa could finally see the strike force he envisaged when joining Liverpool 3 years ago.
CLICKY
and
CLICKY
El Niño 
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