McLeish considered Owen bid

McLeish considered Owen swoop

Birmingham chief quickly discovered United's interest

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has revealed he considered signing Michael Owen on a free transfer during the summer.

Owen was wanted by several Premier League clubs during the close season after opting to leave Newcastle United at the end of his contract.Hull City and Stoke City were among the clubs to be linked with the striker before the former Liverpool ace joined Manchester United.He has largely been used as a substitute by the Premier League champions, but demonstrated he still retains his ability in front of goal by scoring a last-gasp winner in Sunday's Manchester derby.McLeish confirmed he held an interest in Owen, but revealed a summer conversation with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson quickly scuppered any thoughts of signing the 29-year-old."I remember speaking to Alex when he signed him, we'd actually thought about Michael Owen and he told me in a conversation he had signed him," admitted McLeish."He said 'where else am I going to get 15 goals in a season for nothing?'."I'm sure he cost nothing, but then there's wages there. But I knew exactly what Alex meant and you could see yesterday the quality of the player."It was one of those ones where, would Michael Owen get the same level of chances created for him in our side that he would at a club like Man Utd?"I think Alex Ferguson could take any goalscorer from any country and he would get goals in that side."