The Manchester City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, is reported to be ready to take advantage of the escape clause that Owen stipulated when he signed for Newcastle from Real Madrid in August 2005.
He signed in a £17million transfer deal that brought him a four-year contract and an estimated wage of £103,000 per week, and ex-Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd still defends the transfer.
"He wouldn't have come if we hadn't agreed to his demands", said Freddy.
Now it is known that Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce attempted to pull Michael Owen out of England's victory over Estonia, and the rift between player and manager deepens.
The People (another London-based rag that gets its claws into Newcastle's business every now and again) says the revelation will widen the rift between Owen and his Newcastle boss Allardyce.
And it is likely to lead to Owen quitting St James' Park when the transfer window opens in January.