By Chris O'Brien
June 11 2005

Michael Owen has been linked with an unlikely move to Manchester United. The Chester-born forward is only getting limited first-team opportunities with Real Madrid and could be interested in a return to the Premiership.

Rumours suggest Sir Alex Ferguson could be set to launch an unlikely swoop for Real Madrid forward Michael Owen. The English international has not really settled in Spain and sources suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson could be set to spend the majority of his £25million transfer budget on the pint-sized forward.

An eventful 2004/2005 season ended in disappointment with the F.A Cup final defeat, and United ended the season without a trophy. This was largely due to a lack of goals up front, with the total of 58 in the Premiership the lowest in the club's history since the top flight was re-branded in 1992. Ruud Van Nistelrooy didn't look himself during the campaign suffering with injuries, Louis Saha is lacking confidence, Wayne Rooney is still young whilst Alan Smith will never been an out and out goalscorer. Could Michael Owen be the answer?

"Michael is a proven goalscorer at every level of the game so the boss knows what he can do and what he could bring to United," said a source from inside Old Trafford.

"He would be a great signing for the club, especially as he knows players like Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville."

The 25-year-old arrived at the Bernabeu in August 2004, but has not established himself as a first-team regular since the £8million move. He has scored 14 goals in all competitions, and has only started 22 games, but with Raul and Ronaldo in the squad, Chester-born Owen may feel that a move away from the club would be more beneficial at this stage of his career.

However, although reports suggest that Owen would favour a return to England, it is unlikely he would be willing to leave Madrid for a club where first-team opportunities could be even more limited. The Red Devils boast £60million of attacking talent and the former Liverpool forward would need to produce consistent goalscoring form to keep himself in the starting line-up. His connections with Anfield would also make the move a sceptical one for supporters.

An interesting rumour all the same though, and with Owen's move to Spain perhaps not as successful as many had hoped, it's a rumour that could have credibility.