Seattle Sounders Rumors: Is Obafemi Martins Set to Return to ELP?
By Paul Taylor
With Obafemi Martins receiving interest from the English Premier League, will the Seattle Sounders allow the forward to go on loan?
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With the preseason kicking off in less than three weeks, the Seattle Sounders still have several unresolved issues. One of the most significant ones involves waiting for the highly rated Jordan Morris to decide where to play.
However, even that takes a back seat, compared to recent rumors involving Sounders star striker Obafemi Martins. As reported by Steve Wollaston of the Birmingham Mail, he has been approached by Aston Villa.
Wollaston wrote that Martins has claimed he received an interesting offer from relegation-threatened Villa. Apparently, the Birmingham side made the proposal four weeks ago, when they approached him about a loan move.
Sounders fans will be relieved to know the Lagos, Nigeria native turned the offer down. However, there is more to this story, after he admitted there’s also been interest from another Premier League team.
The question is, which team is after Martins? What we do know is he was recently linked to Newcastle United and Sunderland.
While the 31-year old seems happy in Seattle, you have to wonder why he would make this interest public? Is he angling for a loan deal, or maybe something more permanent?
From the Sounders perspective, they at least have some control over the player. Martins signed a contract extension in October 2014, which seems him through 2017.
Despite all the uncertainty, one thing that is clear at this stage is no discussions have taken place between the Nigerian International and Sigi Schmid. Speaking to Spenser Davis of Sounders at Heart, the coach said: “The last communication I had with him was about two or three days ago, and he said that he’s coming in (on Saturday).”
Next: What does Joevin Jones bring to the Sounders?
Do you think Obafemi Martins will play in the EPL again? Will it just be a loan move or something more permanent? Let us know in the comments section below.