Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger wants to sign Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins from Newcastle to replace Thierry Henry, and he is willing to increase the Nigerian’s weekly £60,000-a-week salary to £100,000-a-week salary (about N20million) which would be sourced from the proceeds of the French man’s sale to Barcelona, according to reports on Saturday.

Martins turned down the pay rise from £60,000-a-week salary to £75,000-a-week salary authorized by Newcastle’s manager, Sam Allardyce in London on grounds that he wants to play in the UEFA Champions league competition next and may have heard that Wenger is willing to pay him £100,000-a-week salary.

Henry earned close to £120,000-a-week salary while Wenger is banking on the fact that an improvement on Martins’ earning to a level where Newcastle cannot compete may compel the Nigerian to jump ship and head to the Emirates stadium.

While Martins’ wages at Newcastle would be prohibitive to many clubs - he will seek an increase on his £60,000-a-week salary if he does move - Arsenal have more than enough funds available after the departure of Henry, who was being paid approximately double that.

The Nigerian has a £13m buy-out clause in his contract, and The Independent is one of several newspapers confident that the Gunners will match the valuation as they seek a replacement for their record goal scorer.

The news may come as a blow to some members of the Emirates faithful, who were hoping to see a superstar signing arrive in the wake of Henry’s departure. But Martins has proven pedigree, not least in the eyes of Wenger.

In 2003 the striker spearheaded the Inter Milan attack that tore Arsenal apart in a Champions League clash at Highbury, scoring his side’s third goal.

He further impressed Wenger with his debut season in the Premier League, in which he scored 17 goals. The Arsenal manager has, over the last 12 months, publicly expressed admiration for Martins’ prowess, both in his program notes and press conferences.

Newcastle do not want to see their top-scorer leave, but the £13m clause in his contract that has so infuriated Sam Allardyce, who was unaware of its existence, means they would have no option but to allow him to talk to the Gunners - or any other club that matches the price.

That could include Juventus, already believed to have made enquiries. Martins himself has suggested that he would favor a return to Serie A. Either way, it seems unlikely he will remain at St James’ Park, where he may well find himself either behind Michael Owen and Mark Viduka in the pecking order or forced to play out of position.