Jets executive chairman Ken Edwards said the club is after a big name marquee to help them on and off the field, but admitted he was yet to speak with either players' management.

‘‘Those two names are on the list,'' Edwards told the Newcastle Herald. ‘‘That's ideally what we're after, someone who could make a big contribution on and off the pitch.''

New Jets owner Nathan Tinkler has made a big impact since taking over the club in September, luring ex-England international Francis Jeffers to the club on a guest stint, while he also brought David Beckham's LA Galaxy to Newcastle for a high-profile friendly.

But securing the signature of a high-calibre player such as Owen or Scholes would be the ultimate coup for Tinkler and the Jets.

Edwards said landing a big name English Premier League player would be the club's preferred option in order to appeal to a large number of people and corporate sponsors.

"We're going to do what makes good and reasonable commercial sense. We're not going to do anything that's ridiculous," Edwards said.

"We expect to get a good return on any investment in a player in the kind that you are mentioning.

"It relies heavily on doing the sorts of things that (David) Beckham has done for the LA Galaxy in terms of merchandising and in attendance and commercial sponsorship and additional games - that whole business model.

"It's not going to be easy and that's why it hasn't been done before (in the A-League)."

Former England international Owen, 31, is in the final year of his contract at Manchester United, while 36-year-old Scholes is nearing the end of the his career after a decorated time at Old Trafford where he has won nine Premiership titles.