Count us out on Owen - Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez opened the way for arch-rivals Manchester United to move in for Michael Owen after stressing signing another striker was not a priority.

The former Reds forward appears to be on his way out of Real Madrid after just one season following the arrival of Robinho and Julio Baptista at a cost approaching £40million.

However, despite the Anfield club reportedly having first option on the England international Benitez – who less than a fortnight ago spent £7m (€10.1m) on Southampton’s Peter Crouch – is concentrating his resources elsewhere.

“We have a lot of strikers who I am happy with and for me the most important thing at the moment is to protect Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher,” he said.

“I am looking for a centre-back and not a centre forward.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger seemingly ruled himself out of the race for Owen last night saying: “At the moment I’m not looking for a striker. I’m looking at some other areas. I have not made any approach for Michael Owen.”

That leaves United in the driving seat to bring Owen back to the north-west, especially as he has been told the club’s new owners, the Glazer family, will release funds for big-name signings.

Ferguson already has four international strikers at his disposal in Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and Alan Smith.

There is also the prospect of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning to fitness this season, while David Bellion provides another option.

However, United chief executive David Gill said: “The money is there for Alex.

“If he identifies a talent that he thinks will improve the squad – and that is the crucial thing – the funds are available.

“The Glazers have said that if there is a big player out there who is available, then the money is there to go for him.

“We can still afford a lot of money for top players and at the same time we are also able to develop many of our own.”