Fergie eyes double swoop
2005-06-20 12:01
London - Manchester United were reported on Monday to be chasing former Liverpool star Michael Owen, who now plays for Real Madrid, and Newcastle United midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his board to sound out Real Madrid who bought Owen for £8m last year from Liverpool but who has spent most of the season on the bench despite scoring 14 goals.
Real's valuation of £13m might be too much for United who have been told by new owner Malcolm Glazer to restrict spending.
The Times reported they had only £6.25m to spend before the end of their financial year on July 31.
That money has been assigned to the signings of Fulham's Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Korean midfielder Park Ji Sung from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
Under Glazer's business plan Ferguson would have £25m for the following financial year, which would come after the transfer window closes.
Ferguson would have to offload one of his strikers - Ruud van Nistelrooy, injury-prone France international Louis Saha, or Alan Smith, but certainly not Wayne Rooney - if he wants Owen.
The Sun said United were also interested in Jenas whose first-team slot at Newcastle is threatened by the arrival of Scot Parker from Chelsea.
Ferguson is in a hurry to rebuild after losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal, finishing a distant third behind champions Chelsea in the Premiership and going out of the Champions League in the last 16.