Quoteless Martins - Wenger link from dodgy Nigerian site

[DJ_NUFC]

http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jun/25/216.html

 

Wenger ready to swoop on Obafemi Martins

 

• Anelka, Owen also mentioned as possible Henry re-placements

By Olawale Ajimotokan, 06.25.2007

 

Monday, June 25, 2007

 

Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins could now be the transfer target of Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, who is seeking a replacement for Thierry Henry who at the weekend completed a £17 million switch to Barcelona.

 

Martins’ career on the Tyneside has remained a subject of debate since he allegedly walked out on the team in the last match of last season at Watford.

 

But reports from England last night claimed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could now launch a bold bid for either the Super Eagles striker or his team team mate Michael Owen to shore up the Gunners forward line in the wake of the exit of the inspiring Henry.

 

Also being mentioned by the British media is Henry’s France international team mate Nicolas Anelka, who walked out of the London club seven years ago after spending only one season at Highbury.

 

Though Martins, who last week was at the centre of a gun attack in Lagos which the Police claimed was bogus, has vowed his allegiance to Newcastle, the source of concern at the club, however, is that the petit striker could invoke a get out clause in his contract to seek a move away from St James Park.

 

It was revealed last Friday that, Martins who earns £60,000 (about N15 million) per week as the highest paid Nigerian player in the Premier League could be allowed to leave if a club offers £13million for his services.

 

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has already resigned to fate that there is nothing he could do if Martins decides to evoke the get away clause in his contract this summer.

 

Owen who cost Newcastle £17 million about two years ago on the other hand could be allowed to go for £9 million.

 

Martins was the club’s leading marksman with 17 goals in only his first season at the club.

 

The Magpies paid £10 million to Inter Milan two years ago as transfer fees for the player who is on a five-year contract.

 

But the club will face a real battle to keep him during the current transfer window especially as Wenger has vowed to seek his availability if Henry left the club.

 

He is also speculated to be attracting interest from Chelsea, Juventus and Valencia.

 

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Newcastle attempted to write out the £13 million buyout clause in Obafemi Martins' contract.

 

The Evening Chronicle says when Martins sacked his Italian agent halfway through last season and moved to Jonathan Barnett's Stellar group, United tried to rescind the buy-out clause.

 

That's because at the time the Nigerian international was scoring fantastic goals for United and was worth a lot more than the £10m Glenn Roeder paid to Inter Milan for him 12 months ago.

 

But the only way United could have changed Martins' buy-out clause was to tear up his £60,000-a-week five-year contract and give him a new one, but this did not happen.

 

[Shak]

the petit striker could invoke a get out clause in his contract to seek a move away from St James Park.

 

Petit striker.

 

Aye, he's very slightly built alright, isn't he?

[Mike]

These clauses piss me off. Sit these two guys down and offer them new deals without the clause. If they refuse, sell them both and bring in people that actually want to play here. This is going to be a topic until Feb 1st otherwise. If they stay, every time they play well it will be bittersweet, because you'll fear that this was the performance that convinced a bigger club to make a move for them.

[DJ_NUFC]

These clauses piss me off. Sit these two guys down and offer them new deals without the clause. If they refuse, sell them both and bring in people that actually want to play here. This is going to be a topic until Feb 1st otherwise. If they stay, every time they play well it will be bittersweet, because you'll fear that this was the performance that convinced a bigger club to make a move for them.

 

Tru say.

[Lagerstedt]

 

 

The Magpies paid £10 million to Inter Milan two years ago as transfer fees for the player who is on a five-year contract.

 

That's because at the time the Nigerian international was scoring fantastic goals for United and was worth a lot more than the £10m Glenn Roeder paid to Inter Milan for him 12 months ago.

 

A nice piece of journalism there