The cash-rich Eastlands side believe they can capitalise on Owen's decision to delay signing a new contract to sign the England forward.
Owen has just six months left on his £120,000-a-week deal at St James' Park and has only said that he is prepared to stay until the end of the season. But a significant bid may be enough to tempt Newcastle to cash in now rather than risk losing him on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.
Owen has the perfect stage on which to demonstrate his ability in today's televised clash with former club Liverpool, a side Owen has barely concealed his desire to rejoin. But any move back to Anfield would have to overcome the reservations of Anfield manager Rafael Benitez, who was corralled into selling Owen to Real Madrid just weeks after taking charge in 2004.
Benitez is thought to be looking elsewhere for reinforcements and may bid for Shakhtar Donetsk's Croatian midfielder Dario Srna. Damir Stimac, Srna's agent, said yesterday that Srna is not looking for a move but "we have an agreement that if an offer comes from a club that is in the Champions League, that is fighting for its national championship, that has a big tradition, then we will talk about a transfer".
That leaves City in pole position to pair Owen with their other principal target for January, Roque Santa Cruz.
New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is adamant the Paraguayan will not leave for less than Rovers' £20 million asking price but Santa Cruz has made it clear he wants to leave. And City's need to reinforce their striking department has become more urgent after Benjani was ruled out for three months with a ruptured thigh muscle.
City manager Mark Hughes said: "We hope he will not be out for the same length of time as before but he will be out for a significant amount of time."
Another City target, Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna, is widely expected to arrive for a fee in the region of £3 million. Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the experienced Spanish international but are unwilling to be drawn into a bidding war for a 32-year-old.
City have also been linked with moves for Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bridge, Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure as Hughes looks to embark on his much-anticipated spending spree.
Away from Eastlands, experts believe this could be the quietest January transfer window for years as clubs start to feel the effects of the credit crunch.
Last year, Premier League sides gorged themselves on some £150 million worth of signings, more than doubling the previous record of £70 million, set in 2006.
Estimates for this season's spend depend largely on how often Hughes reaches for his chequebook, with agents and clubs alike expecting a downturn.
Andy Evans, director of World in Motion sports management, said: "With football here run by British corporations and foreign billionaires, it would be very lucky if it was not affected by what's happened.
"The noises coming out of most clubs are that they won't be doing much business because they don't have any money to spend. The only exception to that are Manchester City. A few others might do a bit of business but it will be loans, swaps or player-plus-cash deals.
"Clubs could use the crunch as a negotiating tool, but for players, it means consolidating what you're earning now before the effects are really felt, because in a few months' time maybe the wages on offer won't be as good."
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