Michael Owen set to sign to boyhood heroes Everton

Everton are ready to give Michael Owen a final chance to rebuild his career in Premier League, European and World Cup football.

As Sunday Mirror Sport exclusively revealed last week, the ex-England striker - marooned with relegated Newcastle - sent an SOS to selected clubs in the form of a 34-page brochure.

Most of the game's major powers, unwilling to gamble on Owen's suspect fitness, have consigned the sales pitch to the shredder.

But Everton boss David Moyes - unable to compete in the same financial league as the Big Four, Manchester City and others - is willing to throw him a lifeline.

Moyes made an unsuccessful bid for Owen last summer and remains keen to bring the 29-year-old to the club he supported as a boy.

But sentiment won't be the incentive put to the former Liverpool player. It will be a hard-nosed business proposition.

Everton believe they represent Owen's best option. They have finished fifth in the Premier League for the past two seasons, qualified for the Europa League, and give him the opportunity to play his way back into the England squad.

Owen will be 30 by next summer's finals in South Africa and realistically it is his last chance of a tilt at the game's ultimate prize. Moyes considers it a risk worth taking.

Owen is out of contract at the end of this month and has acknowledged he will have to take a huge pay cut.

Everton are adamant they will not break the club's pay structure, so Owen would be offered £50,000 a week - barely half his current wage.

Moyes will be back at work following his holiday this week and anxious to reinforce a team that also reached the FA Cup Final last month.

Two of his other targets are Fabian Delph, a precocious 18year-old midfielder with Leeds, and 21-year-old Sheffield Unit-ed full-back Kyle Naughton.

Leeds are demanding £20m for Delph and Everton have no intention of paying that.

They have offered a deal rising to £5m for Naughton, but United have indicated they want a fee of £7-8m.

Everton may have to cash in on a leading player and expect a bid from Manchester City for defender Joleon Lescott.

The world's richest club will be told nothing less than £20m could persuade them to sell.

Get player videos and transfer news round-ups on the Football Spy blog .

FREE £25 BET WITH BETFAIR

Win top spec footy boots