Michael Owen has expressed his desire to remain in the Premier League amid his search for a new club.

Owen has been without a club since being released by Manchester United at the end of last season, prompting reports linking him with a host of different clubs.

Stoke City have emerged as the favourites, with manager Tony Pulis admitting that he would love Owen at the club, but the former Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid striker is waiting for the best possible option.

"I'm wanting to play and eager to start again. I just wish the fans on my Twitter account were running the clubs, then I'd sign for anyone I wanted! I want to play in the best possible team. If it was local to my house, excellent. I want to play more often, but that's not written in the contract," said Owen.

"I don't really want to play in the Championship, I know I can still play in the Premier League and can still score goals. Obviously the question mark for any potential buyers is injuries but I just need a good run of games and I just didn't have that at Manchester United. I need to regularly train and play.

"There's been interest from all corners of the Earth, every nation you can think of - Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey. My ideal is the Premier League, I want to play in the Premier League - then it's whoever's the best team, then things like location, the deal, different things will play a part."

Owen, 32, is currently joint sixth in the all-time Premier League top scorers list with 149 goals.