Martins nears deal to provide endorsement for Kevin Keegan's revolution

[Jimbo 175]

Obafemi Martins is on the verge of signing a new four-year contract at Newcastle United as players clamour to be part of Kevin Keegan's revolution at St James' Park. With Michael Owen enthusing about the manager's “fantastic” plans for the club and Habib Beye eager to extend his deal, Martins will commit himself to the club in the coming weeks.

 

A new contract worth £90,000 a week, which removes the £13 million get-out clause inserted by the previous regime at Newcastle, has been agreed in principle for months. The team's flirtation with relegation caused delays and while it has yet to be signed off by club officials, there are only minor formalities to be addressed.

 

Martins, who was bought from Inter Milan for £10 million in 2006, has played a significant role in Newcastle's renaissance, starting the past six matches, during which the team have remained unbeaten, in a three-pronged attack featuring Owen and Mark Viduka. The 23-year-old has scored 19 goals in 53 league appearances for the club and while he has shown displeasure at being substituted, he is happy with life on Tyneside.

 

Chris Nathaniel, the striker's agent, said: “Oba has been treated so well by everyone in Newcastle and he is happy and wants to stay. We have been in talks with the club and there are a couple of things to sort out, neither of which will break the deal.”

 

Beye's relationship with Newcastle began more recently, having arrived at the club last summer. Yet despite his team's difficulties this season, the 30-year-old Senegal right back has established himself as a favourite with supporters. The affection is mutual.

 

“I want to stay here for a lot of years,” Beye said. “I have two years on my contract and maybe I have to speak with the manager for more years. I love this club and I love the city. When I left Marseilles it was difficult because I played there for four years and everyone liked me. You come here and you don't know the country and you don't know the club. But when I came here everyone was friendly and the fans were brilliant. The stadium is incredible and it gives me great pleasure to play there.”

 

If Keegan, who has identified Thierry Henry, the Barcelona striker, as his fantasy signing, has his way, Newcastle's future should be promising. It is a point that the manager made to Owen when he informed the England forward that the club would soon be contacting his representatives to begin contract negotiations. Owen's deal is scheduled to expire at the end of next season, but he was impressed with what he heard.

 

“The situation is that the manager said to me about ten or 12 days ago that he wants me to stay. He told me what type of player he's going for in the summer and what he thought we needed and his vision for the club,” Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Optimism is building. “We've had some troubled times this year, but the stadium has always been full and the fans have always got behind us,” Owen said. “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 that 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.”

[asteroidblitz 12]

Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Back on the shelf for potential suitors, then. That's June and July's 'will he-won't he' headlines sorted.

[Dr Gloom 22536]

gemmil won't be happy

[The Fish 11080]

Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Back on the shelf for potential suitors, then. That's June and July's 'will he-won't he' headlines sorted.

 

Christ on a bike, I watched the video clip and it looked to me like a man who hasn't had talks with anybody yet but would happily enter them. With this statement, he's probably trying to push talks with us if anything.

 

He really is Public Enemy No 1 at the moment isn't he?

[Tooj 17]

Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Back on the shelf for potential suitors, then. That's June and July's 'will he-won't he' headlines sorted.

 

Christ on a bike, I watched the video clip and it looked to me like a man who hasn't had talks with anybody yet but would happily enter them. With this statement, he's probably trying to push talks with us if anything.

 

He really is Public Enemy No 1 at the moment isn't he?

I thought that was Fop?

[Ketsbaia 0]

90k a week!?

[Fop 1]

Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Back on the shelf for potential suitors, then. That's June and July's 'will he-won't he' headlines sorted.

 

Christ on a bike, I watched the video clip and it looked to me like a man who hasn't had talks with anybody yet but would happily enter them. With this statement, he's probably trying to push talks with us if anything.

 

He really is Public Enemy No 1 at the moment isn't he?

I thought that was Fop?

I can't be everywhere you know, people do need to form other "villain" relationship through which to validate themselves.

 

 

 

 

To me Owen is just being his usual self with the press, doesn't mean anything really.

[Guest Patrokles]

Owen said. “It's all fantastic to hear. But it's just been the manager and he said then that the chairman would get in touch with my adviser over the coming weeks. It's not me putting pressure on, but he hasn't yet, so there's nothing really more to say. I presume he'll get in touch with me and we'll talk over the summer.”

 

Back on the shelf for potential suitors, then. That's June and July's 'will he-won't he' headlines sorted.

 

Christ on a bike, I watched the video clip and it looked to me like a man who hasn't had talks with anybody yet but would happily enter them. With this statement, he's probably trying to push talks with us if anything.

 

He really is Public Enemy No 1 at the moment isn't he?

 

If the video clip you're referring to is, or was anything like, his post-match interview, then you're talking absolute shite.

Edited April 23, 2008 by Patrokles

[LeazesMag 0]

90 kwid a week!?

 

tidied

[Ketsbaia 0]

He's worth more than that, like