Michael Owen is clear when he says he wants to stay at Newcastle United, but the player has today warned he will leave on a free transfer next summer, if the club do not improve their contract offer.
 Michael Owen – could leave as free agent next summer
There have been meetings ongoing between Owen’s contract advisers and the Newcastle negotiating team that includes Executive Director (football) Dennis Wise and Head of Recruitment Tony Jimenez.
But because Michael has just one year left on his contract he can leave within a year, and therefore can simply refuse the Newcastle offer, and even buy his contract out right now for around £5M.
But Owen has said many times that he wants to stay on Tyneside, and lead the Newcastle revolution on the field under Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan, but the England international also feels the club need to reward him financially.
We’re not sure why Michael thinks he deserves to be rewarded, because his contract right now is over £5M a year and in the last 3 years he’s played around 47 times for the club and scored 20 goals.
Add to that our transfer fee to Real Madrid of around £17M, and Michael has been an expensive proposition for Newcastle, to say the least.
Because of this, and the fact that Newcastle must reduce their wage bill this season, the club have asked Owen to reduce his wage demands.
However, as a free agent Michael will be able to negotiate a far larger basic weekly wage if he leaves either next summer or buys his contract out this summer.
Newcastle seem not to be budging on this, and the very last thing we want right now is a stand-off between Owen’s representatives and Newcastle, where the contract doesn’t get signed.
That’s probably Kevin Keegan’s nightmare scenario, and the reports suggest that Owen is growing increasingly concerned at the lack of progress.
A source close to Owen said today:
“Michael wants to stay and he will stay if Newcastle give him what he wants, but that hasn’t happened yet and the contract talks are dragging on.”
“Michael can leave on a free transfer next season and he knows he will get the wages he wants then. He is in a strong position.â€
Owen seems happy at Newcastle, and he has been enthusiastic in the way he has talked about the start of the new season, and the positive impact Keegan has had since he returned as manager.
However, Michael is also a hard-nosed business man and is unlikely to allow emotions get in the way.
The club are also in a difficult position, because if they cannot hold onto Michael Owen, there will be even more criticism the club are just too tight when it comes to handling world class players, and the chances of us signing them in the future, will not look good, at least not to the fans.
The worst thing that can happen is the status quo continues where nothing gets done, and the best is that the club announce they have reached a 4 year deal with Michael in the near future.
But we have to think that Kevin Keegan cannot be too happy at these events right now, with no transfers happening anytime soon, and problems with keeping his captain, who he has said many times he wants to build the Newcastle team around.
Oh well, another day in the difficult life of being a Newcastle United fan.
Be sure to take our new poll on whether Michael should be prepared to take a wage cut and stay at Newcastle.
We need a nice win this afternoon with the lads playing very well – just like last week.
Comments welcome.
100 comments so far
Ericles
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Comment #41Best comment of the day Black and White Blood.
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Comment #42Ignore the boo-bairns!..
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Comment #43Well doesnt this board change liek the weather, a couple of weeks ago 99% of people on here were sayiong OWEN Must STAY. now because they all get taken in by the all Knowing sage THE JOURNAL they want rid of the lad???
Anyway, lets not split hairs of this, Owen must stay IMO. He is still the best finisher at the club, by far. OBA is excellent granted but very inconsistent….he drifts in and out of games and is still very young!! As long as MO is on the park there is the chance of a goal in every game, and the defenders will not rest easy.
Besides, I get wrong for calling Cashley on here, but if he is so much of a business man….which you all keep telling me (and I agree) why would he let one of his biggest assests go for free??
This would put one or 2 of you in the HYPOCRITE band of posters!!
On one hand get rid he is a greedy blah blah, 16.5 mill wasted!! Nice move by Cashley
On the other hand, Keep him and pay him what he wants, and have the potential of selling him and recouping some cash on him?
Or pay him what he wants keep him and watch him go on to become a goal scoring legend at st jammies!!
You guys, and you know who you are, cant have it all ways!!!!!!!!
Toon1978
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Comment #44Owen deserves F.. ALL imo. What has he done in three years to pull strings for an improved contract. If he wants to stay at NUFC then he must take a wage drop. So bloody greedy it unbelievable its a kick in the teeth to the normal folk who work for less then £250 a week. Get shot of the greedy prick give somebody else the headache of a money grabbing a…hole. The bloke lives in total luxary and still wants more what a joke. Tell you what Mr Owen i will pick you up in my clapped out £500 Rover and i will drive you back to Chester myself. I say get someone who WANTS to play for NUFC and not just the money. These hungry players want to thank their lucky stars they are doing something they love for a wage that is way beyond any limits. So Owen i have two words that i would love to say to your face and the second word is OFF.
Obafan
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Comment #45Every day I read negative things about our club. Whether they are true or not it doesn’t care anymore. NUFC is constantly being put in a bad light:
1. MA selling or not => not stabile
2. MO quality player who needs to get a new contract
3. transfers should we say anything about that (being linked with every player and not able to get a descent signing)
4. wages are too high for the players, but the crap players like Smith they earn a lot of money and that seems the most normal thing in the world.
If you want to cut the wages Mr Ashley, cut those of players like Smith and other overrated players but ffs keep the few quality players we still have cause otherwise we are doomed.
gorskino10
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Comment #46What a nob I bet he wants more than 110k which he no way deserves why do u need this sort of money you much have lots stop being greedy just agree to a 80k as I’ll be highest payed player and also you won’t get 110k for the proformances you’ve had and the small amount of goals too just sign it.
Toon1978
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Comment #47Angry man the angry fan i see what you are saying but why should clubs buckle to players demands. There has to be a limit. If i went to my gaffer demanding money i would be told to like it or lump it.Why should these EGO maniacs get their own way. I mean what the hell does he spend ahundred grand on every bloody week. If i had my way the best player in the leagues would be on a maximum of £1000 a week. The ppl that SHOULD be on thousands upon thousands a week are the people who save lives or the Soldier who puts his life on the line every day. Dont get me wrong i love my football but this wage thing gets me down with greedy players.
dontoon
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #48I not being funny but this situation is unacceptable. We dont look like we are signing anybody, we dont look like we got much money, we dont look like offering wages in comparison with other clubs. We dont look like we got any ambition.
We are not sports direct and try to make money by being cheap. We need to compete not only on the pitch but off the pitch. Teams like spurs, portsmouth, villa, are who we are competing with and we are no competion at the moment.
The appointment of wise was a stupid idea. He has done nothing but make negotiations breakdown. We as fans need to put pressure on the board to make sure they know that we will make life uncomfortable if they dont give our great team and city the respect it deserves and back Kevin Keegan as much as they can
I wish i had enough money to buy out that idiot owner of ours im starting to hate him.
Tommy
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Comment #49Sounds like he is more interested in money then pulling on the black n white shirt. I say get what we can for him and bring in some young talent that wants to play for the club.
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Comment #50TOON1978
I am not saying what is right and what is wrong on this occasion, it is all down to the baoard to get the right deal for NUFC and for MO.
The issue here is, why should MO take a pay cut?? When he could leave for free and get the same wage he is on here from another club? If he is willing to honour his contract, the club should honour it also!!
If my boss asked me to take a pay cut because my contract was coming to an end I would say, P Off mate, i want at least the same or I am off to stack shelves in asda!! 😉
I dont agree with anyone who say no one can afford his wages!!
Without as HEFTY transfer fee his wages are affordable by most clubs in the EPL!!
The problem is it is a fact of life that EPL footballers will get paid a week more than most of us would earn in 10 years. SADLY we cant change that, the football clubs cant change that as there is always someone who will pay the wage a good player asks for!!
Anyway, your comment re extortionate pay and there are better deserving people out there couldnt be more spot on!!!
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY!!
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Comment #51DONTOON
You are beginning to sound like me!!!! ha ha ha
Toon1978
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Comment #52Is there anymore news on Collocini
Barnaby Bolsover
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #53Lets sign Diouf to replace little Mickey.
http://www.bolton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=117084
clinta
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #54I don’t think the board or our club should be pressured or held to ransom by any player even those of the stature of owen,
he’s earnt more than his fair share at newcastle compared to what his put in so far, i’d hate to see him leave but at the same time i hope the club stands firm.
dontoon
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #55lol
Angry man Im starting to get really annoyed all these people that are backing MA are living on hope and I hope they are right but in three weeks when we end up buying unknown with no epl experience, no improvement on our current first team and MO with no contract and looking to leave then im sure we will all begin to shout with one voice.
Respect To Daniel Levy he is really gambling to achieve success, he might not get there but at least giving it a real go.
Taiwantoon
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Comment #56Sell him, and replace him with who?
If the club really wants to get rid, it has to be done after a replacement is lined up or it would be the end of day.
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Comment #57Angry,
y’right man, why should people take pay cuts?..
…We signed him for that amount & normally, people get a pay rise not a cut…That’s the way it is!..
…& if i remember correctly, we got a few million when he got injured playing for pingland from the fa & insurance anyway, so he actually cost us a lot less than his original price!..
…Also, while it’s a bit gauling for people/fans who get payed nowhere near what footballers get, that’s the wages that are payed these days, why should working class people go back to bein’ slaves, which is what we have been in the past…Players used to be treated like shit, ’til jimmy ‘the chin’ hill did something about it!..
…Why don’t we complain about artists, pop/rock stars, business gits, actors etc, etc wages!..Probably ‘cos we love/watch football, so we are close to that, so that’s what we complain about?..
…But basically, if i know someone, a working class lad/lass making big, stupid bucks, i think, make hay, while the sun shines!..
…We all wanna get payed BIG!..
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #58This was always going to be a tricky situation, trying to reduce a strikers wage and a striker that when he plays tends to score.
Opition 1, no new deal, continue to pay his current contract and he leaves for free in 1 year, we pay £10 million plus to replace him and £80K week in wages.
Option 2, continue to pay £115K a week for 4 years.
Option 1 = £31 million (ish)
Option2 = £24 million (ish)
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Comment #59ObaFan2,
i think he’s on £103k p/w so that price would come down again, option 2 that is!..
Walter
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Comment #60We are signing Diouf.
Ed is typing up the piece he is “rewording” from NewsNow Newcastle and Vital Newcastle articles as you read this.
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #61Yeah just guesstemates and option 1 is over 5 years not 4.
Closser call than I thought but a proven goal scorer (even if it under 20 epl a season) is hard to replace…..
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Comment #62There are few better in front of goal ObaFan2!..
…& anyone good, costs similar or more!..
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Comment #63Revised :
Option 1 = £31,000,000 ish (5 years)
Option 2 = £21,500,000 ish(4 years)
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Comment #64😀
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Comment #65well I put £10 million as a guide for a replacement but Oba can get goals so I think he’s a fine replacement and here already 🙂
Crouch £11 million (as a guide) rather have Owen imo. But I agree there are plenty of striker options about.
xfer
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Comment #66If the season starts and he doesnt get a contract, i cant see him settled. Its hard to play without knowing if you would still be at the club.
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Comment #67Option 3, reduce Smiths wage by £30 K a week and give it to Owen….. problem solved 😆
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Comment #68Rather have Owen than most!..Berbatov would be good, but he’s got attitude issues & would cost a lot more etc, etc…Better off sticking with Owen really, he is proven, & he can’t help the injuries he’s had…Was it Shearers fault when he got injured?..
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Comment #69Good shout about smith mate!.. 😀
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #70Lol reduce Smith’s wage and promise him £100,000 every time he scores…. quids in lmao.
Yep I agree Owen can find the net but I still think a good EPL striker should score 20+ EPL goals a season… Mr Shearer for eg. Owen has never done this in his career up to now.
Also Owen is almost guarenteed a starting place here which will be good for his England ambitions, elsewhere he’d get less games to impress the new England manager.
It’s a tricky situation. Someone like Everton I believe would snap him up though.
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Comment #71Excellent plan man!.. 😀
…Injury free, i reckon he can get 20+ like!..
neverton wouldn’t pay his wages tho’, would they?..
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Comment #72If they get him on a free they’d be able to offer more in wages maybe…… but it’s a tricky 1.
I hope he gets the 20+ this season, same for Oba and we’ll have something positive to shout about this season.
Punk Skunk
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Comment #73Nice one ObaFan..Gotta take the bairn out mate, so i’m signing off bro’, later!..
…Oba & Owen 20+ each…Sorted!..
…Ho’way the Lads!..
Nick Dryden
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Comment #74Adebayor is in 35K a week. I rest my case.
Owen obviously has absolutely no conscience about all the time he has missed and still being paid a fortune.
Poor lamb being asked to survive on 80k a week.
GET RID.
He has no loyalty even though he is captain. Owen has shown his true colours. He is already one of the richest people in Britain and still the greed and selfishness shines through.
ObaFan2
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Comment #75Nick Dryden, he is now holding the Gunners to randsom for lots more money.
Mitch H
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Comment #76Owen’s ego could fill SJP.
He’s a gready under-achiever.
Never scored 20 goals in any season?
I’m a big fan of KK, but i wouldnt have Owen as my captain, especially now that he’s holding the club to ransom.
I’m not sure its possible to re-coup any substantial transfer fee for him now, coz he’ll just sit tight, run down his contract & will be able to speak with other clubs in January, then leave on a free at the end of the season.
He’ll move on a free so he can negotiate a huge wage with his prospective new club.
Cheers Micky, your a lovely human being.
He’ll be hated on tyneside, not hero worshipped.
However, that woulnt worry him, he’s got payed something like 5 mill a year since he joined us.
What has he give the fans, or the club in return?
A handful of goals in 3 seasons is not even close to repaying the club & fans.
Any captian of a club should conduct themselves in an exempluary manner, not try to screw every last penny out of the club.
The sooner he’s gone, the better.
Petey
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Comment #77offload the greedy poo. captain or not.
we have plenty of captain potentials. and we have given.
get a younger striker who can actually score 1 on 1’s with a goalkeeper.
huntelaar or something. i dunno
screw him and his threats if its true. he can enjoy getting money at a lesser club that wont appreciate him as much as we do.
Black and White Blood
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Comment #78Sorry – These guys’s get in one week what most of us don’t earn in 5 years, if I’m honest, I cant point the fingerer at the player, more so the ideology of football – For the first time since Ossie Ardiles I’ve not renewed my season ticket, nor do I believe I will ever return to St James Park.
I will always passionately support the team and back the club 110%. Unfortunately, it’s took me a long time to accept that football is not what it once was, the core premise of playing for the pride of wearing the shirt, has been replaced by financial gains. Although I’m only 31, when I was a young lad, all I ever wanted to do was play football for Newcastle United. When I ask the students in my class what they hope to do when they grow up, I get the same reply, “want to play football to get a that Aston Martianâ€
The whole ethos has changed; I’d only wish that I’d had the opportunity to see possibly footballs best generation – watching the likes if Wor Jack, who finished work down the mines in the evening to come to training! What’s went wron…?
Petey
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Comment #79oh AND i dont think mike ashley has as much money as he says…
dropping wages will not work/nor proove anything….
we have high wages and ridiculas fee’s in football today, its just how the game has evolved.
but wtvr, i dont know what im talking about here, im no business man so im probably wrong.
Mitch H
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Comment #80If he aint signed by the start of the season, the SJP crown should let him know “he’s one greedy bar-steward”.
I’d love to hear that chant ring out at SJP.
Show the rest of them greedy robbing pro’s that NUFC fans will not tolerate greedy tossers like him.