Owen move hits Real obstacle

Michael Owen was left to train with Liverpool's reserves last night as his prospective transfer to Real Madrid was complicated over the package put forward by the Spanish club, reports Dominic Fifield.

Real had hoped to use Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroon striker they jointly own with Real Mallorca, as a makeweight in the move to reduce the cash settlement Liverpool would seek to smooth Owen's passage to Madrid. But Rafael Benitez's interest in Eto'o has cooled, prompting Madrid reluctantly to sanction his sale to Barcelona last night and scuppering their original proposition in the process.

With Madrid understood to be reluctant to part with another striker, Fernando Morientes who scored the goals in Real's 2-0 win away to Wisla Krakow last night, Liverpool are now seeking a larger transfer fee - albeit a relatively affordable one of £12 million for a player of Owen's calibre - for the unsettled England striker.

A compromise should still be reached, but the transfer may not be completed until well into next week, further delaying the Merseyside club's own forays into the market.

With Liverpool having sanctioned his sale, Owen's representatives spent the day in talks in the Spanish capital, with a Real official saying : "We are pleasantly surprised that Liverpool are happy to talk about the sale of Michael Owen to Real Madrid." But last night's twists over the move will have frayed nerves at Anfield.

The Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso should still complete a move to Liverpool from Real Sociedad in the next 48 hours, but any other major reshaping of Benitez's squad may have to wait for Owen's departure or a new investment proposal from Steve Morgan. - Guardian Service

Hargreaves spur

Tottenham have made an undisclosed offer to Bayern Munich for the England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who may also attract the attention of Arsenal if - or more likely when - Patrick Vieira leaves Highbury for Real Madrid.

Hargreaves is keen to play in the Premiership and is expected to leave Germany this summer, provided Bayern sanction his departure. The club would want £5 to £6 million for the 23-year-old, who has two years on his contract.

Spurs see the versatile Canadian-born England international as a key component in their attempt to inject youth, pace and strength into a midfield that was unconvincing last season.

The strategy has already seen them sign Sean Davis and Pedro Mendes and they continue to pursue Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was in talks with the club yesterday over extending his contract, which has two years to run.

Bayern have not yet agreed to make Hargreaves available, particularly as he has impressed the new coach Felix Magath during pre-season. But they are expected to sanction his sale at the right price, aware that his value will dip over the coming months if he chooses not to extend his contract.

The principal complication for Tottenham could come if Arsenal enter the race. That is conceivable if Vieira moves to Madrid, which is expected in days. Arsène Wenger is an admirer of Hargreaves and the club have made discreet inquiries over recent months.