It finally looks like Louis Saha has done something useful and got himself injured....again. Matt Dickenson in the Times reports that Benitez may take him back to Anfailed to partner Peter Crouch:
Liverpool overtook Manchester United as the more likely destination for Michael Owen when it was confirmed yesterday that Louis Saha had undergone knee surgery, making it all but impossible for United to sell the France striker by the end of the transfer window.
With the United board yet to work out how to squeeze Owen into their roster of strikers, and Arsenal and Chelsea uninterested, a return to Anfield for the Real Madrid player grows in probability, although that deal is not without its many complexities. Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, needs to sell at least one forward to make room for Owen and, despite interest in Milan Baros from Aston Villa, Schalke 04 and Everton (among others), the Czech Republic forward has yet to leave.
Owen, who is in Austria on a two-week training camp with Real, is also aware of interest from Lyons and Newcastle United and his advisers have not yet given up hope that Manchester United will submit a bid. Although a move to Old Trafford is hugely problematical after United confirmed that Saha will be out of action for the rest of the month, Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-term admirer of Owen, and the Glazers, particularly in their first summer as owners, have expressed an eagerness to back the manager on such a significant deal.
Saha, who cost £12.8 milion when he joined from Fulham 18 months ago, has made just 21 starts for United and his injury record would have made it difficult to sell him for half that sum even before this latest operation.