Keep hearing today about how Michael Owen may be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. It comes as a shock to me and I also have problems figuring out where he's meant to be going. Anyone else got any insight? If this has been an issue on the Liverpool boards (didn't look) - either divert me or simply repeat yourselves.
Owen is world class, Liverpool at the moment sadly aren't, and Houllier has a lot of critics that think they never will be with him in charge. So it is possible that Owen might leave to try and get the silverware he deserves, but I don't find it very likely.
I find it highly unlikely that he'll be playing anywhere in England next year. His quotes toward the beginning of this season ("I have to wonder if I'll ever win the league with Liverpool) clearly point towards a move, expecially considering how LFC have played thus far this year.
there are only two english clubs that could afford him: united and chelsea. United could actually use another striker but the phrase "when pigs fly" comes to mind when I imagine the icon of Liverpool football moving to United. Of course it appears that Abramovich is willing to buy anyone of quality but they are already packed in front and I can not imagine Owen wanting to rotate the starting job. In another thread I saw someone suggest Real Madrid - Madrid don't need him - he's not going to bench Raul or Ronaldo - and their plan of buying one superstar player per year is predicated on that player becoming a regular starter. Who else is there? Arsenal can not afford him. Perhaps one of the Italian teams but I'm not sure that Owen would savor a move to Italy. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out but even if he wanted to leave, I can't see where he'd be going. There's a long time left before the end of the season, though. You never know, Liverpool could climb into that last Champion's League spot.
It could very well be negotiating tactics. It could also be that he really wants to play for a team that actually wins domestic and European titles, not a team who would be considered success if they qualify for ChampLeague by clinching the fourth place. He could feel that it really is heading to dead-end where he is right now.
If Owen wants to leave then let him. I don't blame him for wanting to. Liverpool has not achieved what a world class striker wants. But if he leaves, I hope he will join a team as great as Real Madrid. He should play in Europe just like Beckham. That is the only way to improve.
Is it possible that he could wait until close to end of the season to decide on the contract (i.e., wait until it is sure the LFC is in the ChampLeague next year or not)? (I imagine that wouldn't be too popular amongst the fans, management and the team-mates, but since we are talking about him wanting to play in the Champions Leauge....)