Owen set to have medical at Old Trafford

[louisoh]

OMG.. Owen?... i tot Benzema was a much better investment... n all SAF bought was Valencia and Owen? ....




Michael Owen has arrived at Manchester United's training ground as his shock move to the Premier League champions gathers pace.

Empics

Michael Owen: A free agent

The striker will then have a full medical at Carrington on Friday and could put the finishing touches to a pay-as-you-play deal as early as next week.

The England international is without a club following the expiry of his contract with Newcastle United and it appeared only Stoke City and Hull City were interested in offering him a contract.

But now it appears Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to snap up a player who is fourth in the all-time goalscorers list for his country.

Newspaper reports suggest the contract will be purely incentive based, depending on minutes played and goals scored.

Sir Alex tried to sign the player - a boyhood Everton fan - as a teenager but instead he opted, on the advice of his father, to pen a contract with Liverpool where he scored 118 goals in 216 games.

United have been searching for a new forward since the departure of Carlos Tevez at the end of his loan deal. They had been linked with the likes of Karim Benzema and David Villa, but now it seems Owen will be arriving.

The 29-year-old suffered an injury-ravaged time at St James' Park but still managed to score 10 goals as the Magpies dropped out of the Premier League.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker will be hoping a move to Old Trafford will push him back into the thoughts of England coach Fabio Capello ahead of next summer's World Cup finals.

United's policy is not to comment on transfer stories, but some Red Devils' messageboards have been lighting up with negative comments.

''Not happy. From what I've seen he is nowhere near as good as he was,'' was one; while another discontented fan lamented: ''Owen hasnt been the \
same for years!''


Sauce: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...nsfers&cc=4716

[Nooch]

Owen?? He's a traitor!!

[dominique_kwok]

I honestly think that Ferguson is making a bad bad choice. Then again, he can't help but start looking for scraps. Man U looks to be in trouble, BIG trouble next season... I can already hear Cristiano thanking his lucky stars that he bailed out in time.

[jazz_samz]

Yah. It seems RM had so much money to splash. Man Utd was too slow in taking up their targets and confirming them asap. Sigh. I hope that there is still a big signing before window closes.

[dominique_kwok]

Yah. It seems RM had so much money to splash. Man Utd was too slow in taking up their targets and confirming them asap. Sigh. I hope that there is still a big signing before window closes.

The only problem is... there aren't many big names left....

[pet]

hahaha.. owen boh heng, sway. next season MU relegated ....

[Darkangel]

And chelsea will win

[PamDino]

He is still a good finisher if he stays fit. Could turn out to be a good signing .

But, I thought that he could have acted like the way Tevez did. Anyway, Owen is not loved by the fans, like the way GOD is.

Dino

[louisoh]

Siao liao.... he signed for United...

Hope he can be back to his best... but then, i tink he is a 'has been'.... haiz.. United seems to be buying scraps nw...



Michael Owen has been confirmed as a Manchester United player. The striker has signed a two-year deal to play at Old Trafford and no transfer was paid as the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward was a free agent.

Michael Owen: A free agent who joins on a deal believed to be incentivised
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson happily confirmed the deal saying, "Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question. Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish"

Owen himself was similarly happy, and said: "I had just begun to talk to other Clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me. I agreed without a moment's thought.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

"I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here. I missed pre season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one.

"I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances"

The striker spent Friday morning at United's training complex, Carrington, before heading to a south Manchester hospital for more tests.

Owen left the hospital just after five o'clock and was understood to be returning to United's Carrington training ground to complete the formalities of the move.

The England international had been without a club following the expiry of his contract with Newcastle United and it appeared only Stoke City and Hull City were interested in offering him a contract.

But Sir Alex Ferguson has snapped up a player who is fourth in the all-time goalscorers list for his country.

Newspaper reports suggest the contract will be purely incentive based, depending on minutes played and goals scored. Sir Alex tried to sign the player - a boyhood Everton fan - as a teenager but instead he opted, on the advice of his father, to pen a contract with Liverpool where he scored 118 goals in 216 games.

United have been searching for a new forward since the departure of Carlos Tevez at the end of his loan deal. They had been linked with the likes of Karim Benzema and David Villa, but now it seems Owen will be arriving to pep up their striking options.

The 29-year-old suffered an injury-ravaged time at St James' Park but still managed to score 10 goals as the Magpies dropped out of the Premier League.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker will be hoping a move to Old Trafford will push him back into the thoughts of England coach Fabio Capello ahead of next summer's World Cup finals.

In Manchester and among fans, the reaction has been mixed; Red Devils' messageboards have been lighting up with negative comments.

"Not happy. From what I've seen he is nowhere near as good as he was," was one; while another discontented fan lamented: "Owen hasnt been the same for years!"

[theOrion]

Actually, he is a good option to have. At Newcastle, he had a crap team with crap management to content with and still managed 10 goals though hardly playing. Considering Man Utd has a knack of getting the best of so called 'past prime' players like they did with Sherringham and Larsson, and now still with Giggs and Scholes.

Plus what the heck, Owen comes free! I think it's a good piece of business. With the added incentive that the player wants to get some face back and wants in for WC 2009.

[bing]

Owen?? He's a traitor!!

actually, he dun deserve a sh!t...

[dennlow]

Actually, he is a good option to have. At Newcastle, he had a crap team with crap management to content with and still managed 10 goals though hardly playing. Considering Man Utd has a knack of getting the best of so called 'past prime' players like they did with Sherringham and Larsson, and now still with Giggs and Scholes.

Plus what the heck, Owen comes free! I think it's a good piece of business. With the added incentive that the player wants to get some face back and wants in for WC 2009.

...FULLY AGREE!!!..just look at Robinho's performance at Man City last season..world class player with mediocre team players..