Tottenham target Newcastle's Michael Owen in January transfer window

Tottenham are poised to make an audacious £4million bid for Michael Owen in the January transfer window.

Newcastle accept they have problems in persuading the striker, who celebrates his 29th birthday today, to sign a new contract and Harry Redknapp is ready to pounce.

And the Spurs boss has also targeted Chelsea's Joe Cole as a priority summer signing, when the England star will have just a year remaining on his Stamford Bridge contract.

Owen, who is Toon's highest paid player on £105,000 a week, will need to be persuaded to move in the January window.

He could sit tight and leave St James' Park as a free agent next summer.