Hargreaves set for crunch talks

OWEN HARGREAVES is set for showdown talks with Bayern Munich in an attempt to thrash out his future.

The 25-year-old revealed earlier this week he is considering an offer from Manchester United.

And both before and after England’s 4-0 friendly win over Greece on Wednesday, Hargreaves pointedly refused to confirm an intention to remain with the Bundesliga champions.

Although United have refused to confirm any interest in the player, and rejected outright reports a transfer could be concluded, Alex Ferguson is known to be in the market for further midfield reinforcements.

Bayern have reacted with predictable hostility to suggestions they could sell Hargreaves, who has spent all his professional career with the club, particularly as he only recently signed a contract extension to 2010.

The three-time European Cup winners have already lost one key midfielder this summer in Michael Ballack, who joined Chelsea, and have no intention of being raided by the Premiership for a second time.

However, the Canada-born midfielder’s agent Roman Grill has claimed Hargreaves wants a meeting with Bayern coach Felix Magath to outline his own vision for the future.

“It is not a question of whether the club want to discuss a transfer,” said Grill.

“It is obvious that they need players like Owen and they don’t want him to leave, but on the other hand, the player wants to talk.

“Owen wants to tell the club how he sees his future.

“He has never had any problems with Bayern. He has been here for nine years now without any complaints but the time has now come to evaluate where he is in his career.

“Maybe he will talk with the coach Felix Magath and see how he views things.

“Owen rates Manchester United on the same level as Bayern Munich with the advantage that, being an England player, it would be better to play at Manchester United.

“There, he could replace (former United player) Roy Keane and play in his favourite position in front of the defence where he can show off his full abilities.

“It is only normal for Bayern Munich to say they don’t want to sell a player they have brought up through the youth team, even though they can earn €25 million for him.”

Meanwhile Ruud van Nistelrooy’s number 10 shirt will remain vacant at Manchester United this season.

The Red Devils have confirmed their squad numbers for the new season and, while striker Giuseppe Rossi has moved up the pecking order from his previous number 42, the Italy Under-21 international has only gone as far as 19.

Rossi takes on the shirt vacated by Edwin van der Sar who, with Tim Howard now at Everton, will wear the traditional goalkeepers’ number one jersey.