Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley admits he's powerless if Manchester City want to sign Michael Owen.

Ashley told The Sun: "We'd love Michael Owen to stay. Newcastle want him to stay but we have to look at what we can spend when other clubs like Man City do not.

"The guy at City is about 1,000 times wealthier than me. I haven't got his kind of money.

"If Man City want Owen, there's nothing I can do about it."