Owen: Looks set for United switch
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Owen on verge of shock United move
England striker Michael Owen has arrived at Manchester United's training ground as his move to the Premier League champions moves closer.
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The former Newcastle and England striker spent the day at the club's Carrington training complex but left early on Friday afternoon in a black Audi 4x4 to attend a south Manchester hospital for more tests.
Owen, whose contract with the Magpies expired at the end of June, had undergone a medical examination on Thursday to assess the troublesome knee which had sidelined him for much of his stay at St James' Park.
However, it is anticipated the ex-Liverpool forward will return to Carrington later on Friday evening when he will officially be confirmed as a United player.
Despite his previous injury problems the deal represents little risk to Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been a long-time admirer of the 29-year-old.
As Owen is out of contract there is no fee to pay and it believed Ferguson has struck a pay-as-you-play deal which will involve a basic weekly wage enhanced by bonuses.
The player has taken a significant pay cut from the £110,000 he was reported to be on at Newcastle, for whom he scored 10 goals as they were relegated to the Championship last season.
But it is the lure of playing for a top-four club, with the promise of Champions League football again, which excites Owen now as he tries to force his way back into the reckoning with England coach Fabio Capello.
That is particularly important for a player who has scored 40 goals in 89 appearances with a World Cup - likely to be Owen's last chance - looming next summer.
He will no doubt be helped by regularly playing alongside Capello's first-choice forward Wayne Rooney at United.
Owen's switch to Old Trafford came as a major surprise as it was thought the former Real Madrid striker's chances of joining a top-four club - let alone the defending Premier League champions - was a non-starter.
The likes of Hull and Stoke made their interest very public - although Owen was never likely to go to either - and it was thought Everton, the team he supported as a boy, were the favourites.
The fact Ferguson has made his move for Owen shows the faith he has in the player's ability, despite an injury-ravaged last few years.
If he remains fit he should still be able to score goals considering the amount of creativity United have on the field - one factor he desperately lacked during his disappointing spell at Newcastle.
Owen may not replace the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has gone to Madrid, or the work-rate of Carlos Tevez, who appears on the verge of a move to Manchester City after his lease agreement ran out at Old Trafford, but he has the knack of scoring at important times.
It is that pedigree which Ferguson hopes will shine through next season.
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Your Comments
ncl_king
"Owen going to United is a good move for everyone. He will not be the first choice striker there, so now he can try and fully recover his damage knee now. Maybe he will get a few odd games here and there for his first season.If he goes to hull, they will try to use him as much as possible straight away and this will only make his old injury come crawling back again and again,time to time. So the best thing for him now is to go to United.Get some good treatment and rest,play few games this year and get ready for the real deal for the next year.United should give him pay as you play kinda deal and if he reject that, he is a fool.If owen still have passion for football,he will sign for united, if he looking for cash,he will go to hull."
siralexsoldier (Manchester United fan)
"no risk - no transfer money to cough up with! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm liverpool fans stop being bitter! even ur legend rush reckons hes going to be a hit!"
Mchenry (Manchester United fan)
"Hey all u anti-man u fan, sorry but i av 2 let ya'all know dat MO az & wil alwayz b a top class player. Gud deal 4rm fergie & all utd board cos we bought him 4 free. "MAN UNITED TILL I DIE"!!! "
daveansh (Liverpool fan)
"well..well..i wudnt never have expected this from Owen..going to Manure...it just shows that most of the players dont care where they play..its we the fans who are the most stupids..well...YWNWA"
rulezzz
"bringing in owen gives fergie a chance to establish berba and rooney as his first choice strike force and also allows rooney to operate down the middle as a true centre forward... i would forsee owen coming off the bench to provide the extra attacking impetus when needed much like how ole gunnar did previously... man u does need a finisher like owen to take those half chances in a penalty box scramble at the end of a tight game when opponents are hard to break down... all in all a good backup to have and if he stays fit and regains SOME of his old self it would definitely end up as one of the bargains of the season (FREE TRANSFER in a currently inflated transfer fee market)... with this signing, fergie probably would want another creative midfielder or winger or pluck another youngster out from brazil to nurture him to become another 80 mil pound worth of talent..."
BigEssienNo5 (Chelsea fan)
"Yeah I see what you mean by the cash with hull and that but what I mean a risk is we no his free but it's if he can stay fit and not get meny knocks if so he be out most of season that's what I mean by a risk but like I said it's all if's and but's "
chillbanana (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
"whoever at TeamTalk is responsible for this photoshopping needs a smacked bottom. It's appauling. Surely done in MSPaint. Soooort it out please."
Roofan (Manchester United fan)
"How can you scousers say its a bad move and a risk?
He is free!!!"
Indigogunnerz (Arsenal fan)
"It's funny how Chelski supporters comment, nobody values what they say...To be honest, We haven't been challenging as of late, but we don't have an abysmal history you carry so yeah..."
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