Big Sam: Owen may leave
Allardyce is set to sign Barton from Manchester City for £5.5 million
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Sunday, 10, Jun 2007 02:22
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has admitted Michael Owen could leave in the summer.
Allardyce confirmed Owen has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if another club offers the release fee of over £9 million.
The Magpies boss held showdown talks with Owen over his future with reports linking the marksman with a move to Liverpool or Manchester United.
Chairman Freddie Shepherd has demanded the 27-year-old pledge his future to the club to quash the speculation.
But Allardyce said he is powerless to stop Owen leaving the Magpies.
"If Michael wants to leave, there's nothing I can do about it, especially if another club triggers his release clause," Allardyce told the News of the World.
"At the moment, we are benefiting from a release clause to get Joey Barton.
"But we could also suffer because of Michael's clause."
Owen has made just 14 appearances for the north-east club since signing for £16 million from Real Madrid in 2005.
The striker has been plagued by injuries and played just three times for the club last season after a knee injury picked up in last summer's World Cup.
Owen scored for England in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Estonia in their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier.