 Owen is also a target for Newcastle |
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that he would love to see Michael Owen return to the club. Newcastle have been keen to set up a deal for the Real Madrid striker, but Owen has also been linked with a loan move back to Liverpool.
"It goes without saying I would love Michael back here and I think everyone at the club would love him back.
"Obviously it's up to Real Madrid. He's their player and they will decide," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.
"But when I see Michael in the England squad I won't even have to ask him where he'd like to be in a few weeks.
"I am waking up every morning looking in the papers and hoping to read he is on his way here. "Could you imagine him coming back to Anfield and scoring against us for another Premiership club? It would be a nightmare.
"Whoever signs him guarantees themselves 20 goals and in my opinion he'd be the best striker in the league."
Owen, who left Liverpool last summer, is now fifth-choice striker at Madrid after the club signed Robinho and Julio Baptista.
And the 25-year-old fears another season on the substitutes' bench will damage his chances of keeping his place in England's starting line-up at the World Cup next year.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has played down talk of a move for Owen, but news that Milan Baros is close to joining Aston Villa could change the situation. Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said on Friday that he thought he had "a good chance" of signing Owen.
Souness is keen to replace summer departures Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert.
"We know all about Michael's situation - he is a target. But we also have other targets," said Souness.
Owen has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, although the Old Trafford club have denied that they are interested.
MMIX
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Whoever signs him guarantees themselves 20 goals and in my opinion he'd be the best striker in the league
Match of the Day - Post-match interviews 