Saha & Owen Swap?

Newcastle Bound?
By Chris O'Brien
April 21 2007

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is rumoured to be lining up a 'swap offer' to Newcastle United for striker Michael Owen. The deal would see Louis Saha leave Old Trafford and return to his former club in the North East.

Speculation linking Michael Owen to Old Trafford has intensified with the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is eyeing up a potential ‘swap offer’ with Louis Saha heading in the opposite direction.

The United boss is said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the injury-prone striker; who allegedly refused to play through the pain barrier against Sheffield United on Tuesday evening as he continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.

Saha has been hampered by injury problems since his high-profile move to Old Trafford back in January 2004; and Ferguson is now said to be looking to offload the forward and is tabling an offer to Newcastle United that would see the frontman swap clubs with Owen.

Owen is another player who has seen his career hampered by constant injury problems. The England international is still yet to make his first-team comeback after sustaining ligament damage during the 2006 World Cup; so it’s fair to say that the 27-year-old could be a gamble signing should he make his way to United.

It’s easy to forget that Saha has played for Newcastle before – making eleven appearances during a short loan spell in 1999; but whether Glenn Roeder would be willing to swap his ‘big name’ striker for the Frenchman remains to be seen.

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