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Video: Barmby urges Owen to join Hull City revolution
MICHAEL Owen has been told that a move to Hull City could deliver his passport to next summer's World Cup. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid star became a free agent last night after the expiry of his contract at Newcastle.
The experts give their views on the big transfer stories in this week's SportsTalk >>
At the age of 29, Owen still craves a return to the international stage with England – but will need to score goals at the top level on a regular basis to win over a sceptical Fabio Capello.
Hull are not one of the biggest clubs in Europe nor one of the wealthiest but chairman Paul Duffen is adamant that they can draw up a 'shared risk' contract to satisfy Owen's demands.
Veteran Hull striker Nick Barmby is also urging Owen to think seriously about a move to the KC Stadium.
The pair spent two years together at Liverpool and were also in the same England side that hammered Germany 5-1 in Munich eight years ago, when Owen bagged a hat-trick.
Barmby, who has signed a new one-year deal with his hometown club this summer, said: "I would certainly advise Michael to come here – but I suppose I am biased because I come from Hull.
"It's his decision but it would be fantastic for us and our fans to have someone like Michael Owen playing for the club. He is a wonderful footballer and, if you give him chances, he will definitely score goals, that is a quality you don't lose.
"It is fantastic for the club to be linked with these players. I am not sure if the club is close to a deal or not but, wherever he goes, he will bring a burning desire to keep playing football.
"He is still only 29 years old and he wants to get in the next World Cup squad. Whoever gets him, and hopefully it will be us, will have a great asset", he said.
Owen reportedly bagged 110,000-a-week during his four-year stint on Tyneside but managed just 71 league appearances due to a succession of injury problems.
Hull chairman Duffen is fully aware of the player's history – both good and bad – but, along with manager Phil Brown, is undeterred.
"For us to come into a relationship with Michael, it would have to be on some kind of 'shared risk' basis. We would have to structure a deal that worked for both of us," said Duffen. "It would remunerate him to the level he is entitled to expect – providing he is playing football and scoring goals."
Whether Owen would settle for a 'pay-as-you-play' deal remains to be seen but Duffen highlights other significant reasons why the striker should opt for a move to East Yorkshire.
"Scoring goals in the Premier League is the most important thing if he has an ambition to become part of the England scenario for the World Cup," he said.
"We have to accept that we are not a Champions League club and we are who we are – but I do believe we could structure a deal that would make it very interesting at a club where he has got a very good chance of starting every week and getting his career back on track."
Premier League rivals Stoke City and Everton have also expressed interest in Owen's services along with various clubs in Italy, Greece, Japan and America.
"It is a very competitive environment and there are a lot of people who want to speak to Michael – but we will certainly make sure we have a dialogue on Wednesday," Duffen said.
Hull manager Brown revealed that a total of five deals for new players are currently sitting on the table waiting to be signed.
French club Nancy accepted a 3.5m bid for striker Marc-Antoine Fortune last month and a 6m move for striker Fraizer Campbell has been approved by Manchester United.
Brown, however, is running out of patience and wants answers to his offers sooner rather than later. Both Celtic and West Ham United are still in the chase for Fortune while Sunderland are trying to hijack the Campbell deal.
Hull unveiled a two-year shirt sponsorship deal with betting website 'totesport.com' yesterday along with new home and away shirts designed by kit manufacturers Umbro.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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