Perth Glory have their sights set on bringing star English striker Michael Owen to the A-League club.
The Glory are reportedly in talks with the former Liverpool and Manchester United forward’s management about signing him as the club’s marquee player to replace outgoing Irish striker Billy Mehmet.
Glory coach Ian Ferguson has already sounded out possible replacements and is keen to secure a player in January transfer window.
A Glory spokesman confirmed the club was interested in securing Owen’s services but said negotiations were in their early stages.
“Michael Owen’s agent has enquired about Michael playing in the A-League,” the spokesman told the West Australian newspaper.
“Perth Glory are interested but are yet to find out Michael’s terms and conditions.
“Until these are known, Perth Glory will not enter any further negotiations.”
Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 internationals for England and had stints at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Man United, is currently playing for Stoke City in the English Premier League.
The 33-year-old, who is one of England’s most successful strikers in recent years, having scored 118 goals in 216 league appearances for Liverpool, is not getting regular game time at Stoke and is believed to be keen to make a move.
Glory have one spare position in their squad for an international player after announcing the transfer of Mehmet to Thailand outfit Bangkok Glass FC on Friday.
“We have got one or two irons in the fire overseas and we’re waiting to see what happens with those, whether they are still progressing,” Ferguson said on Friday.
“We have put a couple of things to certain players and hopefully if it comes off, it’ll be great for Perth Glory.”
If Owen joins Glory he will become the fourth high-profile international player in this season’s A-League, along with Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero, Japan’s Shinji Ono and England striker Emile Heskey.
Westie Nomad
Roar Rookie
All HAL teams need a true big name marquee to get bums on seats this is Glory's attempt to do this, however is he worth the coin he is asking?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
A league teams are now competing against the likes of Thailand and China to attract big euro stars and it will only get tougher. Read that PSG striker Hoarau had been offered 4M euros/ year to play in the Chinese league, that's roughly aud 5M. Owen is huge in Asia so I guess Glory will have to offer more than just money (lifestyle, facilities, project ). Makes you realise what a great signee AdP was!
pete4
Guest
Would be a good signing depending on how much $ he wants (certainly would fit into the Glory system) with Smeltz, Miller and possibly Owen would be some front-line attack