Football: O'Leary back for Fowler.
Byline: IAN EDWARDSDAVID O'Leary is preparing a second pounds 10million bid to end Robbie Fowler's Anfield hell.
O'Leary, a long-time admirer of the England international, is ready to make the move following Mirror Sport's revelations of the rivalry between Fowler and England golden boy Michael Owen, which has been intensified by their competition for a single place up front.
Fowler's relegation to the bench for Sunday's historic win over Manchester United sent out a message about Gerard Houllier's preferred partnership and raised questions about Fowler's future.
Now O'Leary is ready to pounce. The Irishman had a pounds 10m offer for the striker turned down by close friend Houllier last season - but demanded to be given first refusal if the situation changed. Houllier is now ready to sell the 24-year-old to avoid further damaging dressing room morale with the simmering mutual dislike between Fowler and Owen.
And O'Leary is ready to switch his attentions from Robbie Keane to Fowler - a striker he rates as the best finisher in the domestic game.
The Frenchman and O'Leary are both in the running for Inter Milan striker Keane, who is eager for a move back to the Premiership with a northern club, after turning down West Ham and Chelsea. Houllier's move for Keane is a clear indication that Fowler's days at Anfield are numbered - especially following his humiliation at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Just days after Fowler revealed his bitter relationship with Owen, he was left rotting on the bench during the 1-0 win. And when Owen was substituted, it was Vladimir Smicer, and not Fowler, who replaced him - a clear statement of intent by Houllier.
Fowler has the perfect profile to fit O'Leary's blueprint of young British-born talent to compliment his impressive squad.
CAPTION(S):
FOWLER: pounds 10m target
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Dec 19, 2000 |
| Words: | 297 |
| Previous Article: | FOOTBALL: WE WANT ROB; O'Leary makes second pounds 10m bid to lure unhappy Fowler to Leeds. |
| Next Article: | Football: JAMIE IS BEST BET LEFT TO FILL GAP FOR SVEN. |