Michael Owen to quit Newcastle, reckons Joe Kinnear

Joe Kinnear has claimed Michael Owen will be offered a new contract by Newcastle on Monday - but reckons he faces a battle to keep the England striker.

The Newcastle boss fears Owen will stall on the offer because he has heard that several Premier League rivals want his signature, with Aston Villa, Man City and Spurs monitoring the situation.

Owen, 28, will be handed the chance to sign a fresh deal at St James' Park in a tactical move by the United hierarchy ahead of the transfer window. Should Owen not sign in the next month, it would give owner Mike Ashley an excuse to cash in on the marksman by selling him for £2million, and save £3m in wages, rather than allowing Owen to become a free agent in the summer.

However Kinnear is fighting against that outcome in the first big test of his credibility as manager, and his claims to have total control over transfer policy.

Kinnear says Nicky Butt will pen a new deal on Monday, claims that Shola Ameobi is close to accepting an extension, and that Steve Harper will also be made an offer, as he sorts out all of his out of contract players.

He held transfer talks with Newcastle chiefs this week and is targeting FOUR January signings, two permanent and two loans.

On Owen's situation, Kinnear said: "I am not that confident to be honest. I will sit down with Michael on Tuesday. I am pretty confident about everyone else but Michael is a different kettle of fish. He is looking at his own options.

"But he has no chance of going in January - the board will 100 per cent back me on that. I have already been down that road. What is point of getting £3m for him and being relegated?"

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