Offers are made for Coloccini and Martins

Jul 4 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United are on the verge of accepting bids for Fabricio Coloccini and Obafemi Martins as the sale of the club edges another step closer to completion.

Although Martins has said he wants to remain at Newcastle next season, The Journal understands he was not on the list of players Alan Shearer insisted were not for sale at the end of last season, while the Magpies will be relieved to get rid of Coloccini after a poor first season in English football.

The £10.6m signing from Deportivo La Coruna, on wages of £80,000-a-week, struggled to hold down a place in the starting XI. Martins’ inability to convert a series of chances in front of goal was a major weakness in United’s battle to avoid the drop.

The Nigerian remains a popular figure among United fans, but ultimately most will accept departures are inevitable following the disaster of relegation to the Championship.

Indeed, it is perhaps surprising that it has taken this long for anything to happen on the transfer front, with several of the club’s supposed star players heavily linked with a move since the end of last season.

Both bids are believed to have been made by foreign clubs and Seymour Pierce – the bank in charge of the sale process – has recommended they are accepted by the manager-less club in order to facilitate the takeover. Newcastle

desperately need to trim a wage bill which stands at £74m a year and the sale of two of the club’s highest earners will not only reduce that figure, the income will also help to reduce the club’s overdraft.

Both steps make the club a more attractive proposition to the three groups who entered formal bids yesterday, with a decision on which has been accepted by owner Mike Ashley expected to be announced next week.