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Japanese club courts Newcastle's Owen

13/05/2008

Michael Owen is reportedly the target of an audacious bid from J-League outfit JEF United Chiba, Japanese media have claimed.

The claim from Nikkan Sports follows the strugglers appointing former Liverpool first-team coach Alex Miller as manager.

But a club official told the Reuters news agency that JEF had been trailing the Newcastle United striker prior to the arrival of the coach he worked alongside at Liverpool.

"The club were discussing options needed for individual positions before the new manager came in," he said.

"The coach didn't tell the club to move for Owen."

Owen, 28, signed a four-year contract with the Magpies in 2005, but amid reports the club is looking to cut its wage bill and interest from Manchester United, speculation around his future has returned.

Nikkan Sports claimed contact had already been made between JEF and Owen's agent Tony Stephens.

JEF are in desperate need of more firepower after winning only one match in their opening 12.

If Owen were to take the unlikely route to the J-League he would be following in the footsteps of former England striker Gary Lineker, who spent two years with Nagoya Grampus Eight.