VALENCIA PLAN £13M MOVE FOR MARTINS

The Spanish club have targeted the 17-goal striker to replace £20million-rated David Villa, who is set to join Liverpool in the summer.

That would leave Valencia with money to test Newcastle’s resolve with a £13m bid for a player Roeder paid £10m for only nine months ago.

Martins has expressed a desire to play in Spain during his career, and he is certain to be interested in Valencia’s ability to offer European football.

Despite speculation over his future, Roeder is planning his summer recruitment drive and is ready to scrap his transfer policy of targeting younger players by making a renewed bid for Sol Campbell.

Newcastle missed out on Campbell last summer when he opted to join Portsmouth, who are desperate to hang on to the former Arsenal centre-back after his role in helping them to the verge of a UEFA Cup place this season.

I would like a central defender this side of 26

Roeder

Roeder, though, wants to strengthen his backline by pairing Campbell, 32, with the highly rated Steven Taylor.

He said: “I would like a central defender this side of 26 and an experienced one over 30 with a big CV and successful playing career.”