Soccer: Lazio back in for Owen

Italian giants Lazio are poised to make a fresh approach for Liverpool star Michael Owen.

The Serie A side have been linked with the England international several times before, with speculation at one stage suggesting they had paid £1m just for the right to have first refusal on the striker should he ever wish to leave Anfield.

Now Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti has said: ‘‘I want Owen. He is a player I would have liked to have had at Lazio for some time now.

‘‘Owen has the talent of an absolute champion. I think he deserves the European Player of the Year award.

‘‘It won’t be easy to rip him away from Liverpool but we are going to try.

‘‘Our idea is to prepare a winning squad each year, made up of champions.’’