Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Magpies retain Owen hope

11 Feb 2009 - 14:40:58

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Newcastle United remain hopeful of persuading Michael Owen to sign a new contract after revealing they will reopen talks at the end of the season.

Owen, 29, placed discussions over a new deal on hold in January and could leave the Magpies on a free transfer in the summer.

But managing director Derek Llambias has confirmed that the club will offer the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker another new deal at the end of the season in a bid to keep him on Tyneside.

"We offered Michael a new contract and he's chosen to walk away and think about his future," he told the Newcastle Chronicle.

"It's not on the table any more after January 1. But we'll be sitting down with him again soon and seeing what he wants to do.

"It's difficult - he's a goalscorer who has ten already this season in the games he's played. It's down to Michael. He's done his term here and it was lucrative, but he's decided he wants to wait until the end of the season.

"So it's a case of watch this space."

Meanwhile, Llambias has revealed that discussions over new contracts are currently ongoing with Habib Beye, Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins.