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England: Newcastle manager Souness hopeful on Owen, loan deal not an option [Thu Aug 25th, 2005]
Newcastle (Reuters) - Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness says he is hopeful Real Madrid striker Michael Owen will sign for the Premier League club, but a loan deal is not an option.
Newcastle have agreed a club record transfer fee of over 15 million pounds with Real for the England striker.
Owen, who has struggled to establish himself in the Real first team, is keen to re-join former club Liverpool, but said he had also agreed a season-long loan to Newcastle.
"He is contracted to Real Madrid and it won't be him that makes that decision. No player can make that decision," Souness told reporters.
"If the offer has been accepted that means they are happy with the money we are offering and then it's up to us to make the club attractive to Michael.
"The fact we've made a whacking big offer for him that has been accepted, means, in my understanding, that a loan is not an option."
Newcastle, who lost 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers and have just one point from their opening three league games, are desperate to sign a forward to support Alan Shearer.
Moves for Deportivo La Coruna forward Albert Luque and former Arsenal and Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka have fallen through, leaving Souness hoping Owen will consent to joining the north-east club.
"We've made his club an offer that has been accepted by Real Madrid and it's now up to the player and his advisors to say yes or no," said the Scot.
"I am a confident sort or person; I'm an optimistic and a pessimist at the same time and I am hopeful that Michael Owen will join us - he obviously knows players at our club and he will be speaking to them about what we can offer.
"Real Madrid have spent a lot of money on Robinho and Baptista and I would imagine that they, like any other football club, would like to recoup some of the money on a player that might not be involved too much this year. It's common sense as far as I see it."
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