Here are your Newcastle United headlines for Wednesday, September 7.
Owen on Liverpool regret
Michael Owen has further entrenched the idea that he was never committed to playing for Newcastle. It is no secret that the Magpies’ former record signing preferred a return to Liverpool after deciding to leave Real Madrid.
However, the Reds were unwilling to match Newcastle’s seismic offer and Owen moved to St James’ Park - much to the delight of Toon supporters at the time. Injuries blemished the former England striker’s stint on Tyneside and, in a 2019 autobiography, Owen took a swipe at Newcastle, Alan Shearer and the club’s supporters.
Now, 17 years after his record-breaking move, the 42-year-old has revealed he desperately tried to return to Liverpool each summer. Owen admitted he even inserted a clause into his United contract to make it easier to do so.
"I went to Newcastle on the proviso that I could put in the contract that, at the end of every season, I could go back to Liverpool for a set fee," Owen told Off The Ball. "That looked as if it was going to come true after the first year, but then I did my knee in the World Cup and it never happened.
"At the end of every summer, I was on the phone with all of them and so were Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard trying to push things through and trying to get me back but, of course, time moves on. (Fernando) Torres had signed and [Luis] Suarez signs so they never really needed me back at that point, which is fair enough. I made the decision to go to Madrid so there are absolutely no hard feelings."
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Bruno ambiguity
Bruno Guimaraes has remained coy regarding his fitness and whether he will make a return this weekend. An injury suffered in the 2-1 League Cup triumph against Tranmere Rovers has ruled the midfielder out for the last two Premier League fixtures.
It was hoped that Guimaraes would return to action against West Ham on Sunday but, speaking at a fan meet-and-greet, he decided to give little away. The 24-year-old told NUFC TV : “I've been working hard for this (a return). It's my goal, but I don't know if I will be ready.
"I know I need to answer this question for many fans today! But I'm doing my best to be ready as soon as possible."
Paqueta snub explained
Newcastle were never serious about signing Lucas Paqueta, according to his intermediary Saif Rubie. The Magpies were perennially linked with the Brazilian following the arrival of former teammate and best mate Guimaraes in January.
Both players were spotted on Tyneside together in May - sparking rumours that Paqueta to Newcastle was on. However, any interest in the 25-year-old faded and West Ham swooped in during the final few days of the window.
The Hammers stumped up a reported £51million sum to entice Paqueta to London from Lyon. Now, Rubie has insisted they were the only club willing to “put hard cash down” for the midfielder.
"West Ham ended up getting a player which, normally, they would never have been able to get,” the agent told talkSPORT. “In fact, they weren't even thinking they were going to be able to get him.
"Lyon were happy because, to be honest, the chairman of Lyon was quoted, no one else in the end came and put hard cash down so they had to do the deal."
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