Real Madrid confident of prising Owen away from Liverpool

Michael Owen's misfiring form with Liverpool has not put off Real Madrid's plans to sign the England star next summer.

Real sports chief Jorge Valdano and president Florentino Perez believe Owen is one of only two English players, the other being Manchester United's David Beckham, capable of lifting the profile of the Spanish giants in a similar fashion to their big three - Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

English press reports today suggested Real are preparing a serious bid for the reigning European Footballer of the Year and are confident of landing the striker with Liverpool now relying on new signing El Hadji Diouf in attack.

Perez and Valdano have been interested in Owen for over a year and the player's sudden drop in status at Anfield has alerted the big spenders to the genuine possibility of pulling off yet another transfer coup at the end of the season.