Owen gets a call from Tyneside

‘‘Newcastle have met Real Madrid’s asking price and conditions’’, Newcastle said in a statement. ‘‘The agreed fee will be a record transfer fee for Newcastle United. It is now up to the player and his advisor.’’

If Owen moves to the North-East club it will surpass the 15 million pounds ($26.89 million) they paid Blackburn Rovers for Alan Shearer in 1996.

Real confirmed an agreement with Newcastle had been reached and said Owen was free to leave. ‘‘Newcastle have made a very serious offer that has met the requirements of Real Madrid’’, the club’s director of communications Antonio Garcia Ferreras said.

‘‘The move now depends on Newcastle and the player reaching an agreement themselves but, as far as Real Madrid is concerned, Michael Owen has the go-ahead to leave.’’ Sources close to the Spanish club suggest that Newcastle have offered over 20 million euros for the player, named European Footballer of the Year in 2001.

Earlier Owen was quoted by British media as saying he wanted a starting place at Real but if not then he would prefer a return to former club Liverpool, where he scored 158 goals in 297 matches.

Waning wonder boy

• Owen bursts on the scene in 1998 World Cup, aged 18, with a couple of spectacular goals

• Though he remains regular scorer at international level, never quite fulfils his club potential thanks to injuries and underperforming Liverpool team

• Moves to Real Madrid in August 2004 but, competing with Ronaldo, Raul and Fernando Morientes for a place in Real’s front line, struggles to find first-team place

• Scores winning goals against Valencia in the Primera Liga, Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League and Leganes in the Cup in October but gets regular place only in later matches

• Ends season with 16 goals in all competitions — then faced with Real’s decision to sign Brazilian forwards Robinho and Julio Baptista