OBAFEMI MARTINS will hold talks with Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce tomorrow after being made aware of interest from Arsenal.

The Nigerian striker impressed Allardyce during the week-long camp in Austria and will resume training in the morning after enjoying a brief two-day break with the rest of his team-mates.

As well as discussing the possibility of playing in a charity match for Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday next week, Martins is hoping for clarity surrounding his future.

With a buy-out clause of £13m inserted into his contract, Arsenal are preparing to match that as they try to fill the void left by Thierry Henry.

It has been suggested Martins is looking to be handed an enormous pay rise to stay at St James' Park, with around £60,000-a-week going to be offered by the Gunners.

And tomorrow, after training under the watchful eye of Allardyce again, Martins will be looking for either reassurance that he is part of the manager's plans or word that he will be sold.

"Right now, all I know is what I read in the papers," said Martins. "I am meeting with the manager when I get back to training. We will see what happens then."

As well as discussions over his future, Martins knows he also has to ask permission from Allardyce to play in the friendly that will mark Mandela's birthday celebrations.

The former Inter Milan man has been invited to play for an African XI against a World XI in Johannesburg on July 18, less than 24 hours after Newcastle are scheduled to play their first pre-season game at Hartlepool.

The legendary Brazilian Pele is among those playing in the fixture but, as Newcastle also have a game the following Saturday at Carlisle, Martins knows the whole situation could annoy his new boss.

"It is an honour to be chosen and to meet a legend like Nelson Mandela," said Martins. "It is not an opportunity that comes every day but I also have to consider Newcastle too. I don't want to miss the first friendly match of the season.

"I will rejoin training on Friday and that will give me a chance to speak to the manager. Hopefully, I can make him understand what an honour it is for me to feature in this game and I think he will understand."

If Martins does depart Allardyce will have to pursue another striker, while his attempts to land Marseille defender Habib Beye appear to have suffered a blow. The 29-year-old, still expected to be the next arrival on Tyneside, has signalled his intention to stay in the south of France - provided he is not sold against his wishes.

Beye, a Senegal international who moved to Marseille from Strasbourg in 2003, is thought to have been the subject of a £2m bid from the Magpies.

But he said: "I am under contract for one more year with Marseille and I do not want to leave unless I am told to go elsewhere."

Allardyce was yesterday working on his remaining transfer targets, while his players were handed a break after a seven-day get-together in Austria.