Michael Owen‘s contract at Newcastle United expires at the end of this month, and several Premier League clubs have been linked with signing the former England striker, with Stoke City, Hull City, Aston Villa and Everton all being reported as expressing varying degrees of interest in securing the player’s services.

Such was his agent’s eagerness to find a new club for his player, he sent out a brochure to most Premier League clubs and some foreign outfits, advertising his client’s capabilities.

Not all Premier League clubs were included on the list of recipients though, with one significant omission being the name of Newcastle’s fierce local rivals Sunderland, where Steve Bruce has just taken over as manager and who are looking to enjoy an active summer in the transfer market.

However, two clubs who have stated that they would be interested in signing the player – Stoke City and Hull City – were also not sent the brochure, according to North East regional newspaper The Sunday Sun, which perhaps gives some indication of where Owens’s real ambition lays.

The striker’s boyhood club Everton still appear to be leading the race for his signature, though no public statements have yet emerged from either Goodison Park or Owen confirming an offer.