Owen and Gabriel Milito.

[JohnnyLambert]

A £9m release clause in Newcastle forward Michael Owen's contract has alerted Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. (Daily Mirror)

Real Zaragoza defender Gaby Milito has pleaded for the chance to join Liverpool after they lined up a £10m player-plus-cash deal involving Mark Gonzalez. (Daily Mirror)

It looks like Rafa will keep signing players he tried to sign before but could not afford. If this is true of course.

Why the **** would a club buy a player for £18 million and then let him have a £9 million release clause in his contract!!

I smell bull****, doesn't make sense!!

[captainfog]

Owen would be a gamble (what with his fitness) and now is not the time for gambles. Rafa knows this which is why I suspect a big name, proven, and in form striker being signed.

[dww]

Why the **** would a club buy a player for £18 million and then let him have a £9 million release clause in his contract!!

I smell bull****, doesn't make sense!!

The rumour at the time was that the release clause was conditional on Newcastles performance. To be honest they knew they were paying over the odds and would never get the transfer fee back. I suspect they believed he would lead them into Europe and boost sponsorship and shirt sales.

[bigfooty]

Why the **** would a club buy a player for £18 million and then let him have a £9 million release clause in his contract!!

I smell bull****, doesn't make sense!!

Makes perfect sense to me. Newcastle are not a fashionable side with a long history of success which is why they do questionable things like pay Kieron Dyer 80K a week and have clauses in contracts such as this reported one.

[Lecter]

Owen would be a great buy at that price. Proven quality in all competitions. Some people on here need to put their petty, childishness aside and just look at the facts .ie his scoring ratio, performances in big games.

Also, if he didn't score the goals in 2004 season we wouldn't have even qualified for CL in 2005, never mind win the bloody thing.

I would have taken Owen in the summer of 2005, I would probably have even took him pre-World Cup

However I wouldnt touch him with a bargepole as things stand today

The metatarsal injury he had was career threatening his own family expressed concerns that it could mean he loses a yard of pace. Since then hes had the cruciate injury which again will have affected his pace

You only have to look at his bulked up physique recently imo hes done that to compensate for his diminishing pace

Owen was a great player only time will tell if he can recapture that form but until he does I wouldnt see him as an option

[bigbill]

I would have taken Owen in the summer of 2005, I would probably have even took him pre-World Cup

However I wouldnt touch him with a bargepole as things stand today

The metatarsal injury he had was career threatening his own family expressed concerns that it could mean he loses a yard of pace. Since then hes had the cruciate injury which again will have affected his pace

You only have to look at his bulked up physique recently imo hes done that to compensate for his diminishing pace

Owen was a great player only time will tell if he can recapture that form but until he does I wouldnt see him as an option

Lec,

Who do you see as 'serious' options then?

[red g]

To leave newcastle now would be nothing short of disgraceful after the amount of money and time spent on him by the medical staff up there. If he left he would confirm that he doesnt have a decent bone in his body, this would be the second time he has ****ed a club around, so **** him,

[Guest]

Lec,

Who do you see as 'serious' options then?

Eto'o seems to be the first choice target alongside Villa and Torres, with Darren Bent under consideration unfortunately if we can't secure our first choice targets.

[Lecter]

Lec,

Who do you see as 'serious' options then?

From what I have heard we will try our utmost to sign Eto'o

Whether that happens or not is anyones guess

Havent heard much else other than that, but it wouldnt surprise me if we tried to sign Alves & Simao also

[bigbill]

From what I have heard we will try our utmost to sign Eto'o

Whether that happens or not is anyones guess

Havent heard much else other than that, but it wouldnt surprise me if we tried to sign Alves & Simao also

Cheers - I would be quite happy with those 3!

[Jayesh87]

From what I have heard we will try our utmost to sign Eto'o

Whether that happens or not is anyones guess

Havent heard much else other than that, but it wouldnt surprise me if we tried to sign Alves & Simao also

Nugent

[Guest]

From what I have heard we will try our utmost to sign Eto'o

Whether that happens or not is anyones guess

Havent heard much else other than that, but it wouldnt surprise me if we tried to sign Alves & Simao also

Hopefully Villa will be a fallback option (or could it be two centre forwards we would sign ?), but I'm dreading with fear if Darren Bent is high on that list.

[Lecter]

Hopefully Villa will be a fallback option (or could it be two centre forwards we would sign ?), but I'm dreading with fear if Darren Bent is high on that list.

Personally I think Villa is too pricey (if the press is to be believed)

I might be wrong BUT if Eto'o is reportedly available for €40 million (circa £27 million) and Valencia reportedly want £47 million for Villa

Its a massive difference in price

That difference could significantly affect Rafas spending power

[Maestro]

Eto'o seems to be the first choice target alongside Villa and Torres, with Darren Bent under consideration unfortunately if we can't secure our first choice targets.

I don't think Villa is a prime target at all.

[Lecter]

Nugent

Preston want £10 million for Nugent according to todays Daily Post (they turned down a £6 million bid from Sheff Utd in January)

On that basis Owen at £9 million would seem a bargain