http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4196760.stm
Owen set to complete Magpies move
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England striker Michael Owen has agreed to join Newcastle from Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old will have a medical on Tuesday before signing a four-year
deal with the Magpies, who are believed to have paid a club record ￡17m for
Owen.
Liverpool were Owen's preferred choice but his former club were only prepared
to offer the ￡8m they sold him for.
"Bringing Michael to the club will rank alongside the signing of Alan Shearer
as my proudest moment at Newcastle United," said chairman Freddy Shepherd.
"The player will undergo a medical on Tuesday afternoon and Newcastle United
hope to unveil him at a press conference next week following his return from
international duty with England," said a club spokesman.
But BBC Sport understands Liverpool, who play Newcastle in the Premiership on
Boxing Day, have not given up hope of luring Owen with the transfer deadline
at midnight on 31 August the cut-off point for any last-ditch move.
If, however, Owen completes his move to Newcastle, his arrival at St James'
Park will eclipse the money the club spent in signing Alan Shearer for ￡15m
from Blackburn in July 1996.
The details of his contract with the Magpies are not known but reports
suggest there may be various get-out clauses depending on the team's
performance.
Shepherd added: "Newcastle fans love centre-forwards and Michael is a
fantastic goalscorer.
"He's someone we would love to build the team around and we hope he can help
us bring success to the club."
With Shearer and Owen we have two of the best strikers to ever play for
England - let's score goals!
From Kenny
Have your say on 606
Owen was left out of Madrid's squad for the first game of their season after
falling behind Ronaldo, Raul, Julio Baptista and Robinho in the pecking order
at the Bernabeu.
That seems to have hastened his departure from the Spanish club and he
travelled to England and met Benitez for two-and-a-half hours, before
travelling to Northumberland.
There he met Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and his son, manager Graeme
Souness, captain Alan Shearer and coach Dean Saunders.
Owen had said he would only play for the Magpies on a one-year loan deal but
he has been convinced to sign permanently in a coup for the club.
A big reason for the striker's move was his desire to play regular football
in World Cup year and England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had revealed Owen was
concerned about his international future as he languished on the substitutes
bench at Real.
Eriksson is likely to be pleased that Owen will be playing regular football,
even though Newcastle are not involved in any European competition.
Owen will link up with Eriksson for England's World Cup qualifiers against
Wales on 3 September and Northern Ireland four days later.
He is suspended for the first game but should return to play Northern Ireland
where he will be hoping to add to his tally of 32 England goals.
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新堡大手筆
買了盧克又搶了歐文
金厲害
祝福歐文ㄧ路順風吧(三立)
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