Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce hopes to persuade striker Obafemi Martins to remain on Tyneside amid speculation he could be a target for Arsenal.

The 22-year-old Nigeria international has a £13million get-out clause in his contract, and is being touted as a possible replacement for Thierry Henry at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger is an acknowledged admirer of the player, who scored 17 goals in his first season in England after clinching a £10million move to Newcastle from Inter Milan last summer.

However, Allardyce will sit down with Martins next week when he returns for pre-season training and attempt to convince him of his ambitions for the club.

"All I can say from the club's point of view and mine is that it is only speculation because we have had no official contact from anybody at Arsenal at the moment," Allardyce said. "Everybody knows about the clause situation he has - that leaves us in a very poor position as a football club.

"We have got the player contracted, it does not mean we have got the player and we can decide if we want to sell him or not because there is a get-out clause in that contract.

"We are left in a very precarious position regarding that. All the speculation that is flying around is difficult to cope with, but it is something we will have to try to find out over the next few days.

"When Oba comes back, we will sit down and say, 'What exactly is the situation?' and if he has any problems, try to resolve them and hopefully persuade him Newcastle is the place for him next season."

Meanwhile, Allardyce, who hopes to seal his move for Paris St Germain defender David Rozehnal later today, has admitted his interest in Chelsea utility man Geremi.

"Geremi is something we would like to pursue, but many other clubs in the Premier League will be doing exactly the same thing as Newcastle," Allardyce said.

"Hopefully we can persuade him - if we get the opportunity - to join this football club and not the others who will be chasing him as well as us.

"It is a long way from done, but there is an interest there and hopefully we can progress it over the next few days."