Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists he did not consider trying to take Owen back to Anfield ... and no other Premiership manager has admitted checking out the money-grabber.
The former England international was linked with a move back to Liverpool prior to his switch to Stoke after the Reds failed to bring in a replacement for Andy Carroll before the close of the transfer window.
However, Rodgers claims the ex-Reds striker was never on his radar as he wants to give some of the young players at the club a chance to impress.
Brendan Rodgers: "Liverpool didn't consider Michael Owen.
"If we didn't get the targets that we hoped to get in the transfer window, I was going to go with what I had.
"There's no point putting money into the academy and then not giving young players a chance. Look at the impact Raheem Sterling has made as a 17-year-old. All I've given him is an opportunity and he's gone on and taken it.
"We've got a number of other young talents and hopefully over the coming months we can see them and see how they flourish."