Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has stepped up his battle to keep Michael Owen at Anfield by announcing that contract talks will begin within weeks.
Owen was said to be privately fuming after his advisers warned he will leave the club if a Champions League place isn't secured and Houllier has taken the opportunity to press home Liverpool's case.
He said: "There will be discussions over a new deal for Michael in the next couple of weeks and I'm very confident about the outcome. I know the boy and it's my opinion that he will remain here."
Houllier's statement comes after Jon Holmes, who is part of the SFX team that represent Owen, would be likely to move on if Liverpool finish outside the top four. However, Owen has been considering a change in his off-field activities for some while and may now push on with plans to offer his father, Terry a more active role.
The Liverpool boss was none too pleased with Holmes' outburst and added: "It strikes me as strange that someone can come out and say that if we're not in the Champions League then Michael will go, and not take into consideration that the player has been missing for practically three months."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has heaped praise on England's teenage prodigy Wayne Rooney ahead of the two sides clash this evening.
Rooney scored a sensational winner in the corresponding fixture last season and just in case anyone had any doubts about his pedigree, Wenger compared him to the second best player in the world.
He said: "Thierry Henry had a little bit of a dip at that age and in fairness, it is not easy to be a World Cup winner at 20. For two years he was not in France's senior side after being in the World Cup of 1998.
"Henry has got better from year to year and that is what is expected now from Rooney - he has the talent now to become a great, but over the years he must improve to show that. Our match last season brought him to prominence and even though this year he has been less in the spotlight it seems to me that he is coming back to his best.
"He has all the ingredients to be a top player and he looks like he will make it. I don't have any doubts for him, but you have to be careful not too burn him out too quickly. The common denominator for all international players is that they play early. Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Henry were all playing for their club sides at the age of 18."
Frank Lampard has claimed he is ready for action despite Claudio Ranieri's assumption that he needs a rest. The 25-year-old has played more games than any other out-field player this season at Chelsea, but claims he is invigorated by playing almost twice a week.
"I won't be knocking on the manager's door and asking him for a rest," he claimed. "And I don't want people suggesting that I'm tired, because the more people say it, the more I will believe it. I feel fine and just want to continue playing. I've got eight goals and I'm close to my best season for the club."
Eddie Gray has called for Jonathan Woodgate to bolster England's defence in Portugal this summer - irrespective of whether Rio Ferdinand travels or not.
The Leeds boss nurtured Woodgate's talent as a coach at Elland Road and believes Newcastle's 23-year-old defender is as good as anyone in the Premiership.
He said: "Even if Rio were playing, Woody should be playing as well. He shouldn't be a replacement for anybody. Bobby Robson reckons that, since Rio cost Manchester United £30m, he got Woody on the cheap for £9m - and I agree. He's a great centre back who will get better with experience.
"You don't see many centre backs who can play like he can on the ball and he's a good defender as well as being quick and quite good in the air.
"He's also still young for a centre half to be playing in the Premiership as they don't usually reach their peak till their late 20's. He's a big player for Newcastle now that he's back from injury."
