Newcastle try to keep Owen at St James’ Park

Newcastle are set to renew talks with their talismanic England striker Michael Owen about a new deal.

“We offered Michael a new contract and he has chosen to walk away and think about his future,” managing director Derek Llambias told The Newcastle Chronicle.

“It’s not on the table any more after January 1. But we’ll be sitting down with him again soon and seeing what he wants to do. It’s difficult, he’s a goalscorer who has 10 already this season in the games he’s played”, Owen said.

“It’s down to Michael. He’s done his term here, and it was lucrative, but he’s decided he wants to wait until the end of the season”, he added.