Owen has cut a lonely figure at Anfield this season

Club chief executive Rick Parry met Owen's agent Tony Stephens a week ago to discuss a new long-term deal.

Owen, 24, only has one year left on his current �60,000-a-week contract and would be free to negotiate a Bosman-style free transfer away from Anfield.

He has already been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Chelsea this season.

Ideally, Liverpool would like Owen to sign a new deal before he heads off to Portugal with England for the European Championship, where his stock could rise further with a successful tournament.

To that end, Liverpool have scheduled further talks with the player's representative in May.

The Anfield board are said to be ready to smash the club's wage structure to make Owen's the highest paid player in Liverpool's history on �90,000-a-week.

However, Owen has previously insisted his main concern over signing a new deal is not about the money on offer to him but whether the club are ready to spend big to win honours.

And the forward is also keen for manager Gerard Houllier to change the way the team play, with Owen receiving support from a regular strike partner and the midfield area.