MICHAEL OWEN WILL fly to England this morning for talks with Liverpool and Newcastle United, although he may have to wait until late on Wednesday before his future is resolved. Liverpool have yet to make an offer for the Real Madrid striker but he clings to the hope that his former club will take him back to Anfield in a permanent deal.

Liverpool could be the busiest club in Europe over the next 72 hours. Rick Parry, the chief executive, has been attempting to sign a centre half and a right winger as well as finding a buyer for Djibril Cissé. A bid for Owen is not thought to be conditional on Cissé leaving, possibly on loan, but Rafael Benítez, the manager, will want to balance his squad. He already has Peter Crouch, Fernando Morientes and Florent Sinama Pongolle as attacking options.

Freddie Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, is also scheduled to meet Owen and Tony Stephens, his adviser, today, which will increase hopes on Tyneside that the England striker might go to the North East rather than Merseyside, even though he has stressed that he would consider only a one-year loan.

Newcastle submitted a bid of about £16 million for Owen last week, an offer that Real accepted. It was thought that Liverpool would offer only £8 million — the sum Real paid them for Owen 12 months ago — but Newcastle may have forced the price up.

Owen, who was not included in the Real squad for the season-opening 2-1 win away to Cádiz last night, is due to gather with the rest of the England squad tomorrow but he is likely to be given permission to leave the camp to resolve his future given that he is suspended for the game against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.