Michael Owen has confirmed new contract talks at Newcastle United are on hold.

Owen, whose four-year deal at St James' Park ends next summer, said: "We began negotiations at the start of the season, but with all that has been going on we haven't spoken for a while."

Newcastle say they made an offer of a new three-year deal at the end of August but the Owen camp insist there is only a one-year extension on the table at £85,000 a week - which would be a £15,000 pay cut.

The People says that even this depends on Owen playing 80 per cent of Newcastle's games this season.