Last Updated: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:39
Everton missed out on signing Michael Owen in the January transfer, according to former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear.
The out-of-favour England international made a free-transfer switch to Manchester United on Friday following the Magpies' relegation to the Championship.
The former Liverpool star was in Goodison Park chief David Moyes' sights at the turn of the year but the move never came off.
Kinnear told Sky Sports News: "He's right up there with the best of them. I like to think I played with one of the best strikers in the world in Jimmy Greaves and Michael has similar attributes.
"In the last window there was a chance of him going to Everton but that fell through and now he's going to an even bigger club.
"He's a great pro, he's very dedicated, he's a really nice lad and I'm sure Alex [Ferguson] will get the best out of him."