LIVERPOOL overtook Manchester United as the more likely destination for Michael Owen when it was confirmed yesterday that Louis Saha had undergone knee surgery, making it all but impossible for United to sell the France striker by the end of the transfer window.

With the United board yet to work out how to squeeze Owen into their roster of strikers, and Arsenal and Chelsea uninterested, a return to Anfield for the Real Madrid player grows in probability, although that deal is not without its many complexities. Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, needs to sell at least one forward to make room for Owen and, despite interest in Milan Baros from Aston Villa, Schalke 04 and Everton (among others), the Czech Republic forward has yet to leave.

Benítez has emphasised that his priority is a new centre half, but with Owen likely to be available for as little as £12 million, most Kop regulars would regard it as foolhardy for the Spaniard to pass up the chance of buying the man who is at present England’s leading goalscorer.

None of Peter Crouch, Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cissé can be relied upon for 20 Premiership goals and, although the latter has scored regularly in France, he was bought by Gérard Houllier, not Benítez. While the Anfield manager did not beg Owen to stay last summer, knowing his head had been turned by Real, he is known to be an admirer.

Although willing to fight for his place at Real where, on top of Ronaldo and Raúl, he has fresh competition from Robinho and Julio Baptista, Owen would jump at the chance to return to the North West, where he still has a home. There have been suggestions of a loan deal but Real, who gave Liverpool a verbal “first option” when they bought Owen for £8 million last summer, may insist on a permanent deal.

Owen, who is in Austria on a two-week training camp with Real, is also aware of interest from Lyons and Newcastle United and his advisers have not yet given up hope that Manchester United will submit a bid. Although a move to Old Trafford is hugely problematical after United confirmed that Saha will be out of action for the rest of the month, Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-term admirer of Owen, and the Glazers, particularly in their first summer as owners, have expressed an eagerness to back the manager on such a significant deal.

Saha, who cost £12.8 milion when he joined from Fulham 18 months ago, has made just 21 starts for United and his injury record would have made it difficult to sell him for half that sum even before this latest operation.

José Mourinho explained why Chelsea had not joined the bidding for Owen. “We play normally with one striker and two wingers,” he said. “I have a big investment in Didier Drogba, a player I love and the same with Hernán Crespo.

“Carlton Cole is a personal bet that I want to win. And Eidur Gudjohnsen can be what I want, a striker or midfield player. The reason why Michael wants to leave Real Madrid is because he does not play as much as he would like. To come to Chelsea for a similar situation would be stupid.”

The Glazers are planning to attend their first match at Old Trafford since the controversial takeover of the club when Debrecen visit in the Champions League third round qualifying match on Tuesday. The brothers have not been seen in Manchester since there were riots when all three went to look around the stadium in June.

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