Manchester United striker Michael Owen had no problem with Hull City going public with their pursuit of him.

"There are some clubs from whom it is quite good if they say they want to sign you," he said.

"It gives their fans a lift to think their team is going in for a player like Michael Owen.

"But I could have gone to a number of other clubs who were doing things much more quietly.

"And, in the end, the one man who in world football who you would want a good opinion from is the one man who wanted to sign me."