According to the story printed in today's News of the World those terms would be £40,000 per week (just over £2million salary), £20,000 appearance fee (£0.76million if he plays 38 games), and £10,000 goal bonus. No signing on fee is mentioned.If those figures are correct, Owen would be guaranteed just over £2million in wages. Consider that outlay his transfer fee if you like, seeing as he's out of contract at Newcastle and they'd be owed nothing, and the bonuses his wages (payable only if he plays, of course).
We've bid triple that for Fraizer Campbell's transfer fee and are reportedly offering him similar wages to Owen's bonus fees, much less than the club's highest paid player gets, so if those are the terms it certainly does sound within City's financial constraints.
The worst case scenario would be paying £2million and not seeing Owen kick a ball. The best case scenario would be paying £3million to see Owen play every game and score 16 goals. They certainly sound like the "right terms" to me, with additional benefits such as raising the club's profile, attracting potential signings and the "Okocha effect" he could have on his teammates off the pitch making it a fantastic signing.
My dream line-up for City next season would be Owen in the box with Campbell and Geovanni either side of him, Bullard setting up the chances, Ashbee protecting the defence, and a new signing like Kevin Nolan providing the energy, box-to-box running and goals from midfield. Am I dreaming though? Would the all-time 4th highest England goalscorer, 7th highest Premiership goalscorer, former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker, Michael Owen, aged 29, really join Hull City?
If a Premier League team like Aston Villa, Manchester City or Everton or an attractive European team want him and put up the same wages apparently ready to be offered by City, we certainly wouldn't stand a chance then. For geographical reasons a Lancashire team or even Sunderland for closeness to his house in Newcastle may also be preferable.
Higher wages may be available in America or the Middle East but there'd be no hope of making the World Cup squad next year.
I ought to stop thinking about Michael Owen joining Hull City. There must be ten English teams more likely to sign him and several European teams as well. However, reading City's chairman say outright that he is "keen to sign him" makes it feel like a genuine possibility.
We're not going to though... are we?
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