Martins is close to signing new United deal

Apr 23 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

OBAFEMI Martins is on the verge of signing a lucrative new contract as Newcastle United look to fend off any interest in their star players this summer.

Martins’ future at St James’s Park has been the source of conjecture because of the presence of a £13m get-out clause agreed when he joined the club from Inter Milan.

But the Nigerian international has agreed to have that escape clause removed from his new deal as he pledges his long-term future to the club on wages of more than £80,000 a week. The 23-year-old, who would have two years left on his present contract in June, is expected to sign the new four-year deal before the end of the season after his advisers insisted last night the important details have already been agreed.

Talks have been progressing well for several weeks and The Journal understands a verbal agreement is already in place, with just a few minor matters to be clarified before Martins signs.

United manager Kevin Keegan will be delighted to know the striker has bought into his vision of the future for the club, particularly as he has intimated he is keen to play for a club that is in the Champions League.

“In Nigeria they are calling me, they are asking if I will sign a new contract,” said Martins. “They say I should just go away, there are a lot of better teams. But they don’t understand; if you feel passion for a team, even if they have problems you have to help them out. For now I’m still playing here. For now.

“They say this because I miss playing Champions League as well, but a lot of players here at Newcastle have played Champions League. It’s not only me. We’re here now, we have to deal with it and try to help each other. That’s the way I’m thinking.”

Significantly, one of the key things for the striker is that he believes Newcastle are showing the potential to make their European comeback following Keegan’s return to the club.

Although Martins has been less prolific than Michael Owen in United’s new three-man strikeforce, his pace and trickery are key components of the new formation and the fact he is starting regularly – something he did not always manage under former manager Sam Allardyce – has helped him develop a bond with Keegan.

For Newcastle’s manager, though, there is still the challenge of getting Owen to sign a new contract this summer. Although the Newcastle skipper has made plenty of positive noises, he has still not guaranteed he will stay.

That probably has more to do with the fact he has still not heard what the club has to say on the matter in terms of the length of the deal and the wages on offer, but it is likely that, once the Martins talks have finished, chairman Chris Mort will turn his attention to ensuring Owen remains on Tyneside. For now Owen has re-emphasised he is thoroughly enjoying his football at St James’s Park and insisted there was already a sense of anticipation among the players about what next season could hold.

He explained: “It’s the oldest cliché in the book, but we really are all in it together. It’s nice to play some good football, to get some confidence and it’s nice to get the fans’ backing.

“And it’s nice to climb up the table. I couldn’t have imagined saying a few weeks or months ago there really is a buzz and anticipation for next season.

“In a way we want it to continue because we’re on a great run, but if we can take these performances and the confidence we’ve got about us and add one or two top players then it’s going to be exciting times.”

For now Owen and United are focused on making sure they extend their run when they travel to West Ham on Saturday. “We’re not going anywhere now fearing our opponents,” Owen told Newcastle World.