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I have no plans to sell Owen: Allardyce
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce says he has no plans to sell Michael Owen in the January transfer window.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has no plans to sell injury-plagued Michael Owen during next month's transfer window.
Reports suggested that the Magpies were looking to offload the England striker, who has started only 21 games for the club since he moved from Real Madrid in August 2005 and earns more than 105,000 pounds (euro146,000; US$214,000) a week.
Manchester City, managed by former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, was linked with a move for the striker who is recovering from a hamstring injury. But Allardyce said he had received no approach from the Swede.
"We have not had a conversation regarding Michael Owen," the Newcastle manager said on Friday.
Allardyce said that, with Newcastle losing four players during the African Nations Cup in late January and early February, he doesn't want to sell anyone.
"It is December, it is speculation time. It is volatile in terms of what is being bandied about throughout the whole of the media world in football," the Newcastle manager said.
"My squad, coming to January, is going to be depleted by four players going to the African Nations Cup, and there is no room for me moving any players out of this football club. It is about, if anything, bringing some players in to bolster the squad, not just for the players who are missing for the African Nations, but hopefully to get us better to see us through this season."
