London - Manchester United could be poised to sign striker
Michael Owen on a free transfer, according to media reports on
Friday.
The 29-year-old is expected in Manchester for a general medical on
Friday, having already had his troublesome knee injury assessed on
Thursday, it was widely reported.
BBC Radio 5 Live cited sources close to Owen for news of the
medical.
'He has already completed one test on his knee and should he come
through Friday's test he'll sign on a free transfer,' its reporter
was quoted as saying by BBC News.
Owen's contract with Newcastle United, for whom he scored 10 goals
last season as they were relegated from the Premier League, expired
on June 30, but it has seemed that the only Premier League clubs
interested in taking him on were Stoke City and Hull City.
His three years at Newcastle were beset by injuries, and it is
reported that United are lining up a pay-as-you-play deal, probably
for figures far lower than the 110,000 pounds (180,00 dollars) a week
Owen was on at Newcastle.
United are short of striking options having lost Cristiano Ronaldo
to Real Madrid and failing to reach agreement with Carlos Tevez on
extending his deal.
They also missed out of Lyon's Karin Benezam, who joined Real
Madrid earlier this week.
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