MICHAEL OWEN is hoping to persuade Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to change his transfer market priorities and pave the way for a high-profile return to Anfield.
Owen covets a move back to his former club but has indicated he will join Newcastle on a season-long loan deal if his preferred option fails to materialise this week.
However with Real Madrid unlikely to sanction such a deal, a big money transfer out of Spain remains Owen's best chance of returning to the Premiership.
Liverpool, though, will not pay any more than £8million - the same fee as they sold him for 12 months ago - for the striker and less than half the bid Newcastle had at accepted by the Spanish giants yesterday.
Benitez has publicly stated that a new striker is not his number one target despite the departure of Milan Baros to Aston Villa this week. But pressure is increasing on the Reds manager to change his mind after watching his side draw a blank in Tuesday night's Champions League third qualifying round second leg defeat to CSKA Sofia.
Owen is desperate to return to the Barclays Premiership after accepting that his first-team opportunities will be restricted at Real Madrid, although he is likely to have to take a wage cut if he returns to Anfield.
He said: "I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid first team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool.
"The president understood me and said he would try to help me achieve this.
"If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle United but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year."
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