Newcastle's £18M Owen bid still on table

Premiership giants are circling Michael Owen after the Real Madrid striker's hat-trick for England this week.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle need no convincing that the former Liverpool hitman could be the answer to their attacking problems.
 
The Premiership's top three have all registered their interest in taking Owen - who now has 32 international goals in 70 matches - back to England.

But so far Newcastle, in desperate need of a replacement for Alan Shearer, are the only club to have made an official bid - of £18million.

The Toon's offer has gone no further because of Owen's demand for Champions League football - and he insists he wants that to be with Real next season.

Owen said: "I got to the dressing room after the Colombia game, looked at my mobile phone and Alan Shearer was the first person to have sent me a text message."

"I'm so glad I've finally got past him because he's been giving me stick ever since the Azerbaijan game at Newcastle in March, when I should have scored at least a hat-trick and didn't even get one."

"There was an element of congratulations in his message - but he still couldn't resist finishing it off with more mickey-taking!"