News coming in today that Fulham are nearing a decent bid for Newcastle’s Oba Martins.
Oba Martins – Fulham interested
The season before last, Fulham won 4 of their last 5 games to stay up in the Premier League on goal difference, and Roy Hodgson did a fantastic job for the London side last season, when they finished in 7th place after finishing the previous season in 17th place.
The Fulham side have secured themselves Europa League football next season.
One weakness Fulham do have, is that they scored just 39 goals last season, and that was the lowest of any team that finished in the top half of the table, so they are on the lookout for good strikers.
Oba Martins certainly fits the bill, and today’s reports suggest they are looking closley at the Nigerian International.
Oba, who is still just 24, and reports are saying that the Cottagers are to try their luck with an £8M bid. Newcastle would accept that bid very quickly since they paid £10M for the former Inter-Milan striker three years ago so £8M, in the fire sale Newcastle are in during the summer, would be a decent price.
However, as always, one barrier to Martins leaving Newcastle, is that the London side will be unlikely to match Oba’s current £65K/week wages he is getting on Tyneside.
But if Fulham do bid that £8M, watch Newcastle immediately accept that amount and allow Martins to speak with the Craven Cottage side. Oba has appeared 106 times for Newcastle (91 starts) and has scored 35 goals, over the last 3 seasons.
Former Newcastle Academy graduate Aaron Hughes, who played over 200 times for the Magpies, is playing well for the London side, since he moved there from Aston Villa in 2007. Aaron played 44 times last season for Fulham and formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Brede Hangeland.
He has played 74 times in total for Fulham, and 66 times for Northern Ireland, and has been captain of his country since 2003, and of course is married to a Geordie girl.
Comments welcome.
62 comments so far
Thump
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Comment #1Good price for a great player. Still a shame, though.
Toon Graeme
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Comment #2If the club agrees a fee then there is nowt we can do then its down to Oba.
We knew this would happen 🙁
belfast toon
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Comment #3how can this happen we ate in the middle of being sold and have no manager who’s in charge????
toonoholic
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Comment #4wld hate to lose him . hes required this season honestly. maybe big al can get him on track. hes got pace and hes got good shoots. only he needs a bit of advice. hes one of the big payers we shld keep if we want to think of rebuilding for next year.
Toon Graeme
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Comment #5Any source for this – I cant find nowt??
belfast toon
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Comment #6More importantly who’d get the ££££
toonoholic
Jun 23, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Comment #7belfast, ashley would for his creative genius idea on the newcastle all english eggs breakfast away kit.
toonoholic
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Comment #814.20 Skysports.com understands Shane Ferguson has committed his long-term future to Newcastle United after agreeing a new three-year deal with the Championship club.
which kid is this ?
Rangerman
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Comment #9I doubt we would see any of it this season as the first installment would go to Inter to pay off what we still owe on him.
Rangerman
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Comment #10He’s the young lad that made his debut for Northern Ireland a few weeks back.
Toon Graeme
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Comment #11Toonoholic :
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Academy/0,,10278~1264444,00.html
toonoholic
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Comment #12a midfielder?
toonoholic
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Comment #13http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Academy/0,,10278~1389876,00.html
looks nasty !
Rangerman
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Comment #14Shola’s brother is a good player from what I’ve seen of him.
stevep
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Comment #15Ashley can’t sell as he effectively has included the clubs assets in the sale ( which obviously includes players ) – it’ll be down to the new owners whoever they may be.
It’s no different to buying a house and then finding out they’d taken the first floor with them
Stuart79
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Comment #16Rangerman // Jun 23, 2009 at 3:04 PM
I doubt we would see any of it this season as the first installment would go to Inter to pay off what we still owe on him.
They won’t be looking at the money coming in so much, it’s getting him off the wages.
Whatever we get for him is a bonus.
We have about £20m coming in this summer as it is.
Ericles
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Comment #17Hate to lose Oba. Hope he refuses to leave. What can fat Ashley do if Oba says “I am not going”. I still think Ashley will destroy as much as he can with his vindictive scorched Tyneside policy. We are going to need every Shane Ferguson we can get at this rate.
Rangerman
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Comment #18It’s no different to buying a house and then finding out they’d taken the first floor with them
……
Have you ever seen the film ‘moving’ with Richard Pryor?
Stuart79
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Comment #19We’ve arrange a final friendly in Holland.
Who is making these decisions?
Wonder if Shearer is giving the nod to these arrangements…
Rodzilla
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Comment #20None of it is making much sense Stuart, as usual. There’s obviously a lot going on behind closed doors that we know sweet FA about. I’m imagining everything is just too sensitive for the public domain at the moment. I reckon we’ll hear something positive this week.
(I hope)
belfast toon
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Comment #21I’m getting really f**ked off with this
Pons Aelius
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Comment #22Shane Ferguson is really highly rated and has had clubs from all over Europe (mainly the Bundesliga for some reason) scouting him. I’m delighted we’ve secured his contract. I’m looking forward to seeing him, Ranger, Lua-Lua and Vuckic in particular.
belfast toon
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Comment #23Mushroom army
Stevo
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Comment #24Don’t get this?! I’m sure no player can move in or out at the moment with the club being sold. Surely he’s part of the sale?
Pons Aelius
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Comment #25The club can still buy and sell players as long as the potential investors are informed of the change and agree to it, but I don’t see this happening until the club’s sale has actually gone through.
Bill F
Jun 23, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Comment #26Probably more tabloid tittle tattle, they are obviously desperate for stories.
I still think we are in duck mode.
MDS
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Comment #27Really don’t want to lose Oba as I think he could light up the Championship with his speed. The wage issue depends on who the new owners are- can’t see him moving until a new regime is in place.
Fair play to fulham though if this is true. This would be a strong move for them following a successful season.
Geordiedoonsooth
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Comment #28Snap their hands off he’s useless
Big Dave
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Comment #29Good news that a good young Northern Ireland player shane Ferguson has signed a contract. and Lads dont listen to all the romurs about Oba etc the club has stated that all players comeing and going was put on hold while the sale of the club entered due diligence. I’m 100% if big Al is manager Oba will stay
RyanToon
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Comment #30we will be sold by thursday this week
Toon Graeme
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Comment #31Well one thing is for sure we wont see it on Setanta news – its gone t*ts up and will stop uk broadcasting shortly!
Dennis Twice
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Comment #32Ashley s gonna give statement on Thursday, that he s not selling our club….
Stuart79
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Comment #33RyanToon // Jun 23, 2009 at 4:11 PM
we will be sold by thursday this week
Positivity or stupidity?
flyingmag
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Comment #34Oba martins is useless he cant even play with anyone but himself,just shows how many stupid thick fans are on this board.
Toon Graeme
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Comment #35How do we know all this Thursday stuff or is it just speculation there Ryantoon?
Stuart79
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Comment #36Dennis Twice // Jun 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Ashley s gonna give statement on Thursday, that he s not selling our club….
Given the current curse on NUFC that really wouldn’t suprise me!
Big Dave
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Comment #37flyingmag your a knob
batty
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Comment #38with a big gob
ian
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Comment #39I cant see them selling him if the new buyer has premiership ambitions but it is nice to know which players could be sold and at what value.
Oba is crucial in keeping the stadium full and guaranteeing goals, any new player is a gamble including Carroll as he has shown no form in top flight to date.
If they want back up and do not want to spend £20m on a striker next year then keep Oba. Think two steps instead of one.
Ezedoesit
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Comment #40I say we just wait to see if the new owner will be willing to pay his wages!….. Any of the US based Geordie fans have any idea on how to catch all the games next season?