Stoke City striker Michael Owen is expected to join the BBC when he retires at the end of the season.

The Daily Mail says BT Sport, who need a marquee signing from the dressing room to head the analysts team for their Premier League coverage next season, could have been expected to jump at the chance to sign such an illustrious footballer as Owen, whose services have been strongly touted to them.

But the word inside BT headquarters in the Olympic Park is that Owen's "monotone" displays on the BBC have been considered 'poor', although it will help Owen's Beeb future that their lead presenter Gary Lineker has been supportive.