The out-of-contract striker will take a 50 per cent pay
cut for a shock last chance to rescue his injury-plagued
career.
United boss Alex Ferguson contacted Owen, 29, on
Tuesday and offered him £50,000 a week to join the champions - plus
huge bonuses depending on appearances and goals.
But Owen must pass a stringent medical, which could
take place as early as today, before United put pen to
paper.
A source close to Owen confirmed: "It's incredible that
one day Michael was contemplating a move to Hull and now Manchester
United have come in.
"This is just the boost he needed and now he is hoping
that everything can be agreed."
Fergie's shock move comes after United missed out on
Lyon striker Karim Benzema, sold Cristiano Ronaldo for £80million
and lost Carlos Tevez.
Owen, axed by England boss Fabio Capello, started his
career at United's hated rivals Liverpool.
He became a free agent two days ago after his contract
ran out at Newcastle. But not in his wildest dreams could he have
imagined Fergie would come in.
The only clubs being seriously linked with him were
Stoke and Hull, while Everton were said to be weighing up their
options and Greek side Olympiakos flatly denied any
interest.
Owen's agents have tried over the years to get Fergie
to bite and he has refused. But he showed a flicker of interest in
January and decided to wait to see how the summer transfer market
unfolded.
United have bought centre-half SEAN
McGINTY, 16, from Charlton for £500,000.
