MICHAEL OWEN could be offered a return ticket to Liverpool after Rafael Benitez was persuaded by the Anfield board to consider taking the England striker back.
The Reds boss was lukewarm about the former Anfield man earlier in the summer, preferring to sign Peter Crouch from Southampton.
But after encouragement from his board, the Spaniard has indicated he is prepared to do business if the price is right.
As Owen's Real Madrid career was effectively ended by the Spanish club's claim that both Manchester United and Newcastle had made moves to bring him back to England, Liverpool were hovering in the background.
Manchester United, within an hour of the Real Madrid claim, issued an emphatic denial and Owen, in turn, rejected an offer to join Newcastle.
Benitez now plans to offload Czech striker Milan Baros within the next 48 hours to pave the way for Owen's return to Merseyside.
The Liverpool boss has done something of a U-turn over Owen's merits after opting to sign Crouch rather than the former Anfield favourite.
But with Madrid lowering the asking price after having no takers for their original £16million valuation, Benitez and the Liverpool board are now ready to step in and offer Owen the escape route he needs - if the price is right.
A day of confusion over Owen's future began when Real spokesman Antonio Garcia Ferreras said: "Newcastle are very interested in Owen.
"They are following him closely and are showing the most concrete interest. However, there are other sides showing an interest, including Manchester United."
That latter claim was emphatically denied by United, although Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who has made an initial £11m bid, confirmed: "We've had a discussion with Madrid but we won't be commenting further on any speculation."
But Newcastle's hopes were ended when Owen turned down the chance to join them in time for a sensational debut at Arsenal on Sunday.
Real Madrid's up-for-grabs striker was given the chance to make the deal happen yesterday but said 'no' to Graeme Souness's club.
And that has left an opening for Liverpool to exploit, especially with Benitez confident of wrapping up the £6m sale of Baros to either Lyon or Monaco. Benitez has come to the view that his return makes commercial and football sense if it does not impinge on his other transfer activity.
Liverpool will ask Real to allow Owen to join them on loan with a view to a permanent move back. The Bernabeu club want Owen off their books within a fortnight.
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