Liverpool hope to land Real Madrid's Owen on cheap

Liverpool are close to sealing a deal for Real Madrid striker Michael Owen for a knockdown £1 million.
 
Kop boss Rafa Benitez has increasingly come round to the prospect of re-signing the Real Madrid hitman.

Owen, 25, moved from Anfield to Real for £10m a year ago - but the Spanish giants made only a £4m down-payment while throwing in Antonio Nunez as part of the deal.

With Real still owing so much on the transfer, Benitez's hopes of bringing Owen home on the cheap have been boosted.

The Spaniards have further been backed into a corner because Manchester United are not interested, while the England striker is not keen on a switch to Newcastle.

Owen has already admitted to friends he is prepared to take a drop on his £80,000-a-week wages to get his dream move.

Benitez said: "I have said before that Michael is a good player but we have six strikers here and only two centre-backs."

"Maybe I should sign a central defender called Michael Owen then everyone can say that the story is true."

"The one thing I must do is make sure that when we sign a player, it is the right one. I don't want people saying in six months we got it wrong."

"I must just be focused on my own team and working with my players. Obviously, if we can sign players good enough for us, then we will try."