Owen will be shown Man United door in summer as Fergie looks for wage cuts

31 January 2010 00:11
Sir Alex Ferguson will try to end Michael Owen's Manchester United career in the summer - after just one season. [LNB]Ferguson has decided Owen is surplus to requirements six months into a two-year deal after closely assessing his form in training over recent weeks. [LNB]The 30-year-old will be left as the club's seventh-choice striker if he stays, behind Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Mame Diouf and an anticipated new signing.[LNB] Short stay: Michael Owen (right) is no longer required at Old Trafford[LNB] Debt-ridden United want to use the England striker's £50,000-a-week salary towards a new contract offer for Wayne Rooney that will keep him away from Barcelona and Real Madrid. [LNB]Both Spanish giants are also ready to go head to head in a £16million battle for Nemanja Vidic, who plays his first game for United this year, against Arsenal today. [LNB]Ferguson's decision will be a huge blow to Owen - although not a surprise after the striker's inactivity in recent weeks. [LNB]Only two of his seven goals this season, after joining United on a free transfer last summer from Newcastle, have come in the Premier League - the last against Manchester City in September. [LNB]Being sidelined has also hit the England striker in the pocket, as he has missed out on thousands of pounds in bonuses for appearances. [LNB] Overshadowed: Wayne Rooney's goal-scoring form has frozen out Michael Owen[LNB]Ferguson has already admitted Owen's options at United will be limited by Rooney's emergence as a genuine penalty-box striker this season. [LNB]Owen was not used at all in Wednesday's thrilling Carling Cup victory against Manchester City. And in a recent game against Birmingham City, Ferguson decided to send on Senegalese youngster Diouf ahead of Owen as United chased a winner. [LNB]Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Owen will miss out on the World Cup because of his inactivity at United, and the man crowned European Footballer of the Year in 2001 faces a major decision over his future at the end of this season.[LNB]Although still keen to play, he has become increasingly occupied by the multi-million pound horse-racing stable he owns in Cheshire. [LNB]Ferguson is likely to name Rooney as his lone attacker against Arsenal, with the in-form England striker supported by Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs. Vidic replaces the suspended Rio Ferdinand. [LNB] Wayne Rooney: My life at Manchester UnitedManchester United should be taken over by fans according to Keith HarrisWayne Rooney could play for Real Madrid - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger salutes in-form Manchester United striker MANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail