Michael Owen's agent has issued a warning about his client's future. Jon Holmes has warned that Owen may have to leave Liverpool if the club fails to qualify for the Champions League. Holmes says: "Champions League football is very important to Michael. He is 24 and moving into his prime and he needs to be playing at the very highest level of club football."
Qualifying for Europe's top club competition was also very high on the hidden agenda at Liverpool's AGM on Monday but Gerard Houllier remains defiant, despite erratic club form that has seen the team slide down the Premier League table. The Liverpool manager told shareholders: "I share your frustration but fourth place in the Premiership is achievable.
"I remain confident in my squad but we need time. All my players will be back in four weeks and then we will be in a different position. I accept the demands of my job but this is not about my future it is about Liverpool's."
One wonders, after five years in charge, how much more time Houllier wants or, more to the point, how much will he be allowed by the Liverpool board. But it may be significant that Houllier was applauded by those shareholders he appealed to.
Volatile Alan Smith awaits news of how he will be punished for allegedly throwing a bottle into the crowd during the Carling Cup defeat by Manchester United. The Leeds striker faces a Football Association hearing and could face a three-match ban, or worse.
However he will be grateful for the intervention of referee Rob Styles, on Sunday, when the official stepped in to defuse a tunnel row between Smith and Patrick Vieira. Styles says: "It was a very short exchange of views. I was on the scene very quickly and managed it at the time."
French club Rennes have issued a denial that Chelsea have made any bid for their goalkeeper, Petr Cech. The Czech international, who was first choice for his country at Euro 2000, has been a target for the London club but Rennes Sporting Director, Pierre Dreassi, says: "We have not received an offer nor are we selling." So that means the keeper will soon 'Czech-in' at the Bridge?
Perhaps a little more smoke, with fire, over another possible transfer. PSV Eindhoven have accused Manchester United of having transfer talks with their transfer target Arjen Robben, without permission. PSV president Harry Van Raaij has made a furious attack on Sir Alex Ferguson after Robben visited Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.
Van Raaij said: "We were very unhappy when we found our player was visiting another club without permission. I have had good relations with United in the past over other transfer but bad relations with Ferguson."
The president did add, when a figure of £5 million was quoted, that United would not get Robben on the cheap. "For that money they can get a shirt from Robben with his signature on it, nothing more. I will not tell you what cards I have but that figure is a laugh."
A little closer to home, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has rubbished reports linking him with a £6 million bid for Robbie Keane.
Bruce said: "Come on, some of the stuff that is written at times is nonsense. We know that he is far too much money for us and his wages would be far too high. I just laugh at some of these stories because it is total and utter rubbish."
