Talk about your unexpected headlines: as I was starting my almost-daily regimen of surfing the English newspaper web sites for Premier League news, I was initially quite taken back when I saw that Manchester United was on the verge of signing troubled/cursed/erstwhile Newcastle United striker Michael Owen on a free transfer.
What?
Then, after a quick chant of "Every Single One Of Us Loves Alex Ferguson mp3 here," I gave this one some more thought: and the more I liked the idea.
The risk appears to be low, as reports are this is an incentive-laden deal. The Red Devils get a player who is not yet 30, has something (a lot of something) to prove (including, perhaps, a last chance to get back on the England World Cup team), and is reunited with Wayne Rooney.
No, it is not what I was expecting to see after the Reds collected Real Madrid's £80 million. But the crazy spending binge being led by Real Madrid has changed what is possible in this transfer window.
I know many fellow Manchester United supporters will not agree: but in my view this is a risk worth taking, assuming he passes the "stringent physical" required before signing. He'll know this is his last shot to regain his reputation.
It may not work, but all of the elements are in place to make success possible. Now we'll see if this is but a mere transfer rumor or something more substantial.
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