NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) - Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins admits he would like to help Newcastle back into the Premier League, but he knows the crisis-torn club are likely to sell him.

With Newcastle managerless and up for sale after their relegation to the English Championship, it would be easy for Martins to look for an escape route from St James' Park.

The former Inter Milan star insists he would be happy to stay but, with Arsenal and other top European clubs interested, it seems certain Newcastle will opt to cash in on his 10 million pounds valuation to soften the financial blow of relegation.

"I hope I am not sold," Martins told the Evening Gazette: "If the club decide to sell me, I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.

"I love living in Newcastle, and there are few better places to live and play.

"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."

Meanwhile, talks over the future ownership of Newcastle were ongoing as interested parties prepared to make their moves.

It is understood the front-runners in the race to buy out owner Mike Ashley are ready to conduct due diligence as they prepare to firm up their intention to make a formal bid.

There have been reports on Tyneside that a South African-led consortium is among the most advanced potential bidders, while former chairman Freddy Shepherd has been repeatedly mentioned.

However, sources close to the club have suggested there is strong interest from elsewhere.

Investment bankers Seymour Pierce, whose chairman Keith Harris is handling the sale, has been in contact with up to four prospective purchasers, including the Singapore-based Profitable Group, but there is still some way to go before the club could change hands.

The players are due back for pre-season training on July 1, with the Championship campaign starting in eight weeks' time, although there is as much work to be done on the playing side as there is behind the scenes before then.

Newcastle currently have no manager - Joe Kinnear's contract has expired and Alan Shearer was employed only for the final eight games of last season.

The 38-year-old former England striker has made no secret of his desire to take the job on a permanent basis, but the current regime has little intention of appointing either him or anyone else with several of the prospective new owners having indicated they want to take that decision themselves.