Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan says Newcastle United striker Michael Owen can no longer be considered a top drawer player.

"We haven't received the brochure, and we wouldn't be interested in him, anyway," Whelan said. "His wages are too expensive, for one thing, and, for another, you have to ask whether he still has the urge, the bottle and the drive.

"I hope he has, because he has been a great player. But that's a big question. I tried to sign him when he came back from Real Madrid. I told his agent I'd pay the £15million asking price and allow him to move on whenever he pleased, because I wanted him to be playing over here in readiness for the World Cup the following year.

"He's looking a bit injury-prone these days, and he does love his horses. His wages will come down, but it would still be a hell of a lot for us to pay someone more than £25,000 a week."