Reports in the Sunday papers today suggest that several Liverpool players are urging Rafa Benitez to take a gamble on Newcastle Utd striker Michael Owen and bring the 29 year old back to Anfield.
Owen, who scored 118 goals in 216 for the Reds, was one of the first players to go when Benitez took over the manager’s hotseat in 2004, signing for Real Madrid in search of silverwear.
But after being relegated with the Magpies this season, Owen finds himself a free agent and searching for a new club. He has consistently hinted a return to Liverpool one day would suit him just fine.
The reports in the back pages today suggest Benitez is preparing a contract offer for Owen on the basis that he would have to prove himself in order to play first team football regularly, and may have to settle for a role as a squad player behind Fernando Torres and other transfer targets this summer.
Benitez’s top transfer target appears to be Carlos Tevez, who is set to reveal his future in the next few days. It is understood however that Liverpool may not be able to meet the £25million price tag to sign him just yet.
But that could change when co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett complete a refinancing package of the loan they took out to buy the club with the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Americans are set to show their commitment to the club by selling stakes in other sporting businesses they own in order to push more cash into Liverpool.
The Mirror reports, “Despite claims to the contrary, both owners have spent about £80m of their own money on Liverpool over the past two years.”
And that means that Tevez could be on his way to Anfield with a bit more cash injected into Benitez’s transfer kitty.
Meanwhile Liverpool have also been strongly linked with signing Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, who’s agent claims an English club have tabled a bid for.
Lavezzi’s agent, Alejandro Mazzoni, has hinted that Napoli are now open to selling the Argentine after refusing to meet new wage demands.
He said, “Today there is an offer for the player and I have the impression that the club wants to sell him.
“I would like to stress that Napoli are important to Lavezzi, but we are talking about an English club in the Champions League and, moreover, they are offering him three times what he earns now.”
It is understood that Liverpool had a bid for Lavezzi, 24, turned down by Napoli earlier this month. Should Lavezzi sign, he would meet up with Argentine international teammate Javier Mascherano.
So today’s rumour mill is a tale of three strikers’¦ let the transfer sagas commence!
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