The contract talks between Newcastle United and Michael Owen are currently taking place.
 Michael Owen – Newcastle United captain
Michael Owen has recently been handed the Newcastle captaincy for next season, after doing so well last season, when he took over the reigns as club captain.
As every Newcastle fan is aware, Michael has just one year left on the lucrative contract he signed 3 years ago, when he first arrived on Tyneside, from Real Madrid in a £17M deal.
And there is no doubt in anybody’s minds that Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is keen for Michael to sign his new deal this summer.
Keegan talked about this yesterday:
“I’m not involved in talks, it’s down to Dennis Wise and Tony Jiminez.” “He wants to stay and we want to keep him. I hope we’ll sort it within two or three weeks.â€
“They are two things in our favor. I hope it will be sorted out in the next couple of weeks. He’s a leader for us in the way he trains, the way he leads by example.”
“He’s not one to shout and bawl and wave his fists about but he shows people how to play the game properly and that’s the kind of captain I like.”
At 28 years-old, and after a great football career since he first broke into the Liverpool first team at 17 years old back in1997, this contract could well be the last major one of his career.
It takes him to 32 years-old, if it’s a 4 year contract as expected.
But Kevin Keegan wants to keep him, Newcastle United want to keep him, and the player himself is more than keen to lead the team under his new manager, who he has more than once referred to as being a great manager and a great guy.
It’s those three reasons why we think the Tyneside club will sign Michael – even if it will still take a couple of weeks.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
Rocky
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Comment #1I know both player and club want to stay, but as it is his last major contract, he will be wanting the best deals and with MA tightening the wage bill, I see that as a major problem.
I think when he is injury free, he still is an awesome player. Martins and Owen are 1 of the best strike forces in the country. One thing about Martins is that he gets frustrated very easily. WHen he doesn’t get a pass, he throws his hands up in frustration but it’s ok when he takes a shot when the better option would be for him to pass.
Despite wot Kev says, I still think we need a creative midfielder that can st up goals and work a bit of magic. Lampards available!!!!!!
Cyprus-Toon
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Comment #2If he’s willing to take a wage cut or else he’ll leave next season on a free….
I think this wages cap is a little low in respect to players these days, after all, even Arsenil are losing players due to it… 🙁
Spot The Zebra
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment #3I very much hope a compromise can be found in these times where the club are struggling to attract players with only half the ability of Michael Owen.
Our financial problems didnt stem from the likes of him or Shearer on good wages but rather the overated and underperforming players that have been signed in the past.
Micheal has stated he wants to stay so why not offer him what he is worth? Its like refusing to go out on a date with a supermodel because she wants to go to a posh restaurant before you can shag her.Howay Ashley, get your wallet out because this one is worth it !
Midjew
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment #4http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=794307
True?
Guess if it was a STRAIGHT swap would be a good bit of business!
scotty
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment #5So, by that rationale, if Man U offered him 120k a week would he still want to stay at NUFC? I think not.
If no player is prepared to fit into the new pay structure then i think they should be able to go.
It’s not as though 80k is a pittance is it?
There are far too many players in this league who dictate to their clubs and it needs to stop.
Tom from Aus
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #6Rocky, i think lampards a bit to much but i dont see whats wrong with julio baptista. Keegan can get him back to the way he played at sevilla, scoring goals and making goals.
New news is that burdisso dosent want to leave inter and that newcastle will trade duff for warnock.
Any thoughts?????
Davies
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #7Rocky – Lampard is free – LOL. He’d want more than Owen!!
I hope we do get this sorted out. He silenced a lot of his critics toward the end of last season and showed the sort of form that made him world famous.
I’ve been impressed at how he’s adapted his game. He knows he’s lost a yard of pace, and has adapted his game to fit his new place. I think he was perfect at playing in the hole. God bless you Michael Owen.
Now sign the damn contract you little beauty.
Davies
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Comment #8Not sure if I’m ready to see Duff go just yet. I think he should be given the chance to show that last weekend’s display at Hartlepool (admittedly weaker opposition) wasn’t just a one off. Both he and KK have said that he’s much fitter and getting back to his best.
Perhaps he should be a starter for a few games and then, if he still hasn’t proved his point, we can move him on in January.
I think we should just up the offer and buy Warnock if he’s that good.
Alex
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #9If he does not sign a new deal with us and walks away on a free next summer , he will probably still have to take less money than he now earns . By then he will be 29 years old with a big injury history behind him none of the big 4 will be interested & none of the other teams would offer the wages that he now gets . My guess is there will be a deal struck where he earns what he now gets and after a year when the deal ends he will get half on maybe a 3-4year deal.
Punk Skunk
Jul 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Comment #10Re-sign MO…He’s a proper striker!..
jeff
Jul 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Comment #11I cant understand how ashley thinks this wage cap will work…I mean if you’ve been on 105000 or what ever Owen’s contract is then he’s wanting to drop it to 80000 would any of you be happy?Yeah I know its all silly money and 80000 is still crazy but its a canny drop…See the way I look at it Owen was one of our players who finished the season in form,also he is club captain…also he is a world class striker and our star player so with the players who have left we have already saved on wages per week,to me keep your star players happy and it may attract other players…….the wage cap surely must be for players we are about to sign……if they do become quality then have a bonus related pay system if the team do so well then reward the players with bonuses….We must look after our star players..Just my opinion like!!!!
Geordie till i die!
Jul 28, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Comment #12Well i think MO will sign a new contract that will see him take a pay cut which will be boosted up by pay as you play to get him what he is on now. Hopefully KK is enough to keep Owen but i wish KK had his say with signings as Denis Wise and Co don’t seem to have the gift of the Gab like he does.
smithy
Jul 28, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Comment #13he is one of the best in the world, ofcorse we should give him a new contract nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Matthew Tom
Jul 28, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #14Unfortunately there is every chance we will lose Owen if we don’t pay the wages other clubs will offer him. The difference between £80,000 and £105,000 a week is enormous over the course of a 4 year contract – £5.2 million gross, around £3m after tax.
On the other hand, if we start offering Owen that kind of money, all the new arrivals will want enormous wages. To some extent it is convenient for Ashley to keep this one undecided while the club tries to get new talent in.
What I would do if I was Mike Ashley would be to get a gentleman’s agreement in place with Owen that they will look seriously at breaking the £80,000 wage cap in his case, but for contract negotiations to be stalled until the end of the transfer window.
Reb
Jul 28, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Comment #15Just a reminder to those saying no other clubs would be able to pay him his asking wages (assuming that’s 100k) if he goes on a free: some simple maths would imply otherwise. Most strikers who can get 10-15 goals per season (Owen managed 11 last season, whilst essentially playing only half the season!) guaranteed have transfer fees of upwards of 10 mil. We’ll say 10 mil, though, assuming the random Premiership club in question was buying from abroad not an English player. If Owen wants 100k/wk over 4 years (cover him to age 33) then that’s a contract worth about 21 mil. No transfer fee means total cost of the player is that same amount.
For 21 mil, with a 10 mil transfer fee, a club would have 11 mil to pay in wages, which is approx. 53k per week. I think there are plenty of clubs that afford that sort of deal, AND have finished above NUFC in recent years. A lot of clubs seem to need strikers: including Everton, ManCity, maybe Spurs (w/out Berbatov or Keane or Defoe that leaves them with….just Bent?), Blackburn, maybe ManUtd (if Cronaldo goes) and Liverpool needs someone to play 2nd to Torres. At the equivalent of around 50k per week, Owen’s wages/risk factor looks a lot less intimidating — ESPECIALLY if he manages to play 30 league matches this season (which would likely put him at 15 goals). Of course, it’s a risk for Owen as well, because if he takes another injury…he’s not going to be a hot commodity.
ende
Jul 28, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Comment #16Again, I think we can make an exception to the wage structure for our centerpiece captain.