[Olzy]

Michael Owen could be on his way out of Newcastle after it emerged a £9million release clause will kick in at the end of the season.

According to reports in Wednesday's newspapers, the England striker's contract states that he can leave the club for a cut-price transfer fee if the Tyneside club fail to qualify for Europe.

The clause was included as part the deal which brought Owen to St James' Park in a £16million move from Real Madrid in August 2005 and will be activated by Newcastle's lowly Premiership finish this season.

Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd admitted when he signed Owen that clauses were included as part of the deal, saying: "Of course Michael has clauses in his contract. In this day and age, all top players do."

And if former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is named as Newcastle's new manager in the next few days, then one of his first tasks will be to persuade the hitman to pledge his future to the club.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all thought to be monitoring the situation and would be able to offer Owen Champions League football and a more realistic chance of winning silverware.

But Newcastle are hoping the striker will remain loyal to the club after playing only 12 games for them in two injury-plagued seasons on Tyneside.

Owen, who still has two years to run on his contract, has recently expressed guilt at being unable to help Newcastle in their quest for honours during his time in the North East.

He said: "For the first hour when I did my cruciate, my first feeling was one of guilt, to the chairman and the fans and even down to the people who sponsor your boots and invest so much in you.

"I'm one of those people who feel sorry for others before they think of themselves. Hopefully I can make up for lost time."

But it remains to be seen if Owen will remain with the underachieving Magpies if one of the Premiership's heavyweight sides comes calling over the summer.


source: teamtalk.com