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Rock-bottom Japan club woo England´s Owen
| Written by: AFP |
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| 2008-05-13 14:28:29 |  |
TOKYO (AFP) - Rock-bottom J-League club JEF United Chiba are making ambitious moves to sign England striker Michael Owen, a newspaper said Tuesday.
The Nikkan Sports daily, quoting unnamed J-League sources, said the Japanese club has contacted agents for the former European player of the year, whose contract runs out after next season. A Chiba official would not confirm or deny the report. "We have always been researching players abroad, but I have no particular information about Owen as reported in the daily," said the official, Masahiko Mikami. Owen's negotiations with Newcastle have reportedly stalled, while other clubs, including Manchester United, have shown strong interest in signing the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star. Owen signed a four-year contract with Newcastle in 2005 put at more than 15 million pounds (29.4 million dollars). He has been plagued by injuries at Newcastle but has thrived since the return this year of manager Kevin Keegan, who last month voiced confidence the striker would sign a new deal. At JEF United Chiba, the 28-year-old would rejoin Liverpool first-team coach Alex Miller, who was named the club's new manager earlier this month. The club, owned by East Japan Railway Co., hired Miller after sacking Croatian Josip Kuze just four months into his appointment. JEF United Chiba, based in the Tokyo suburb of Ichihara, are last in the J-League standings with one win and nine defeats with two draws. If Owen moves to Japan, he would be following in the footsteps of England marksman Gary Lineker, who spent two seasons with Nagoya Grampus Eight in the early 1990s. |
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Discuss- Add comment
NightNiki May 13rd, 2008 16:12
He won't. 28 year good players don't go to crappy leagues...ahmedabdo May 13rd, 2008 19:49
@NightNikii agree with you.
Owen is one of the best strickers in England, i don't even see how they thought about that.
BesTalentScout May 14th, 2008 04:12
things will get worse for the club.........Owen's a goner.................he was way over-hyped even when he was younger...............Giorgio May 14th, 2008 10:36
Although he's only 28, Owen is past his prime and he's easily prone to injury. Maybe he won't be going to Japan just yet, but I'll be surprised if he moves to any major club.Googooboyy July 5th, 2008 10:04
Good players don't lose their talents that easily. Owen's predicament has been the cause of the lack of service around him (at Newcastle). Put Ronaldo (Man U) at Newcastle and I doubt he'll score 40 goals a season either. As I see it, Owen is still a class player, an asset to any team - but going down to japan will be the last thing on his mind right now.