Newcastle eyeing move for Martins

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has turned to Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins after being warned off Germany forward Miroslav Klose.

The Magpies are understood to have opened negotiations with the Italian club for the Nigerian.

But the move comes after Werder Bremen told the Tyneside club to forget trying to land World Cup star Klose.

Roeder said: "Werder Bremen are in the Champions League again this season, and they have made it clear that Klose is not for sale."

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is now ready to talk to Inter as he attempts to secure a replacement for Alan Shearer, and Martins himself seems keen to head for England.

The 21-year-old told the BBC: "I'm close to moving to Newcastle despite all the initial setbacks. Eighty per cent of the deal with Newcastle is completed.

"Playing in the Premiership has been a long-term ambition and I am extremely delighted with the prospect of concluding that in the next couple of days."

However, it is understood there is a major discrepancy between the personal terms Martins wants and what his prospective employers are prepared to pay.

Shepherd may have more cash to play with should Jean-Alain Boumsong complete a proposed £4.5million move to Juventus.

The 26-year-old, an £8million signing from Rangers, was in Turin today with a view to completing a transfer to the club relegated over the Italian match-fixing scandal.

Boumsong was signed by former boss Graeme Souness in January last year, but has endured a disastrous spell at St James' Park, and while he went to the World Cup finals with France he did not play.

He was not on the bench for Saturday's Premiership clash with Wigan.  PA