Monaco have been mentioned as one potential suitor for the striker, who has suffered a succession of injuries since his £12.8million move from Fulham 18 months ago.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson has not publicly confirmed whether he is interested in Owen or not, the United boss did state his satisfaction with Saha’s abilities prior to the Red Devils’ departure for their recent Far East tour.

And, after meeting Saha in Manchester yesterday, his adviser Ranko Stojic insists nothing has changed.

“Louis wants to stay at Manchester United,” he said.

“I spoke with him yesterday and he is very optimistic and confident about the new season.

“At no stage has anyone from the club said he is not going to play and as far as he is concerned, the pre-season preparations are going well.

“Everybody is talking about Michael Owen. He is good but I do not believe he is a better player than Louis Saha.”

Saha exploded onto the Old Trafford scene with six goals in his first five games. Since then though, the France striker has suffered knee, hamstring and ankle problems.

He was restricted to just 14 Premiership appearances last term, mostly as substitute, scoring only once in the process.

However, with his speed, balance, shooting and heading ability, Ferguson knows Saha could be a very useful asset should he ever recover fitness for any length of time.

The forward’s injury problems also mean United would struggle to get even a third of what they paid for him if they did opt to sell, while Stojic is not convinced Owen’s 13 goals in 20 Primera Liga appearances for Real Madrid stands up to the greatest scrutiny.

“By their nature, Real Madrid attack in most games, which means that when Owen came on for the final 15 minutes, the opposition was pretty tired,” he said.

“Owen’s game tends to be about running beyond the defenders, so in those circumstances, he should score goals.

“That is not to say he isn’t a good player, just that I don’t think you can judge him on his record at Real Madrid – and let’s face it, the year before that he wasn’t terribly impressive at Liverpool.”

Despite Ferguson’s silence, there have been indications from the United camp that Owen is not on their hit-list, although it is accepted a current striker would have to leave should the situation change.

Stojic does not believe it will, although he is experienced enough to know nothing is certain in football.

“You never know, in 10 days’ time things could be different but at the moment we have no reason to think they will,” he said.

“Louis is certainly not panicking or thinking he has to do something about it.”

Meanwhile, Germany skipper Michael Ballack has been warned he would be foolish to join Manchester United.

Ballack’s Bayern Munich contract is due to expire in 12 months’ time and there have already been claims he has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Old Trafford outfit.

However, while Bayern are becoming increasingly resigned to the prospect of losing the influential midfielder, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said Old Trafford does not carry the same aura as it did six years ago when United famously beat the German giants in the Champions League final.

“They are not the Manchester United of before,” Rummenigge told Sport-Bild magazine.

“If I were a player, I would laugh about it.”