Michael Owen: Would Now Be a Good Time to Bring Him Back To Anfield?

After his acrimonious departure from the club in 2004, Michael Owen is a player many supporters don't ever want to see in a Liverpool shirt again. But there are some more forgiving fans who believe now would be the perfect time for the 29-year-old to return to Anfield.

The Newcastle player is out of contract this summer and is available on a Bosman free transfer, but his £100,000 a week wages would have to be considerably slashed if the Chester-born striker has any hope of resurrecting his domestic and, more importantly for Owen, fading international career.

The next few weeks for Michael Owen could be crucial, and he is possibly about to make one of the biggest decisions of his career—especially if he has any hope of ensuring his club and international career don't fizzle out in disappointing fashion.

He left Anfield in 2004 in the search of European glory and the experience of a different football league. But after no trophies and just one season with Real Madrid, Owen returned to England in a £16 million transfer to Newcastle United, despite attempts by Rafael Benitez to bring him back to Liverpool.

Unfortunately for Owen, Liverpool's offer was nowhere near Madrid's valuation of the player and, more importantly, the offer on the table from Newcastle.

With the Magpies playing in the Championship next season, the club are looking to cut their substantial £75 million a year wage bill, with a mass exodus of their best players said to be imminent. 

Michael Owen will be out of contract and desperately looking for options to return to the Premier League, with only Everton and David Moyes reportedly showing an interest in the one-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Touted as injury-prone and long past his best by many, Rafa Benitez has recently hinted there will not be an option for Owen to return to Liverpool.

He says Michael still has the potential to play at a good enough level to hold down a regular first team place, but with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard spearheading the current Liverpool attack, the Spaniard believes Anfield would not be the best place for Owen to resurrect his fading career.

Many Liverpool supporters appear unable to forgive Owen for what they believed to be a disrespectful departure from his boyhood club in 2004. His search for success, and furthering his career with experience in pastures new, appeared to fans as simply an act of greed for more money and trophies Liverpool were, at the time, not capable of winning.

However, there are still supporters who believe he had every right to further his career elsewhere and would welcome the club legend back with open arms.

Although there is no transfer fee required, supporters know Owen would have to take a considerable pay cut, and he must also be content with peppered appearances behind Torres and Gerrard, if there is any hope of seeing him scoring in front of the Kop again.

It is difficult to believe Owen has the ability to push for a top-four club and force his way into the starting 11 on a regular enough basis to make him happy. It would seem that a team a little further down the table would be his best option if his hopes of playing for England again are fulfilled.

But how many teams with aspirations of success will want to gamble and bring in a player with such a chequered history of injury-free playing time?

Despite long spells on the sidelines these past two seasons, Owen is still a goal every three games striker, and his experience as one of the best attackers in the world would be invaluable to up-and-coming youth players, wherever he decides to go.

If Owen is happy to reduce his wages and start from the bench more than he would like, then a many great teams should welcome him with open arms.

Liverpool included.