Obafemi Martins celebrates his first goal in Newcastle colours

Martins, 22, had been linked with a move to Arsenal after it emerged the Super Eagle has a $US26m release-clause in his present deal.

"We are talking, that is all I can say for now, I am a Newcastle player and I am happy about that" Martins said.

"Like I said before, all I knew about the Arsenal move was what I saw in the media, nothing more," he added.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has made it clear he is keen to keep Martins at St James' Park and wants him to sign a new contract without such release clauses.

And it seems the former Inter Milan player is open to Newcastle's offer.

All I knew about the Arsenal move was what I saw in the media Obafemi Martins

Martins, who enjoyed a successful first Premiership campaign last season, insists he is ready to compete with Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi for a place in Allardyce's forward line.

"Both Viduka and Owen are great players and it shows that the manager is serious about achieving something this season.

"But I want to play all the time and as long as I am scoring goals, I think I can make it hard for him not to play me."

"It's always good to score goals and for me, it is important to improve every season," Martins said.

"I scored 17 goals last season so this season maybe I should be looking at doing better than that. Twenty goals is possible and I hope I can do that.