Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has outrightly dismissed reports linking the Premier League outfit with a move for Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins.
The Newcastle United attacker has been linked with a move away from St James' Park following the club's relegation to the English Coca-Cola Championship.
Stoke City have been strongly linked in the international media with a move for the former Inter Milan of Italy player especially as the club's manager Tony Pulis needs to urgently bring in another forward as star forward Mama Sidibe is not expected to return to action until October or November after successful surgery on a ruptured cruciate knee ligament.
But even though Stoke City are in the market for a new forward - and have confirmed their interest in Martin's former Newcastle United team-mate Michael Owen - Coates insists that he is mystified by the stories that Stoke City want Martins and has declared that they have no interest in the 24-year-old Nigerian.
Coates told English tabloid, The Stoke Sentinel: "There's nothing in that one. We haven't had contact or discussions about him at all.
"I don't know where the story has come from, but there is no substance to it.
"I don't bother about the speculation. It is normal. I think our fans know we don't go in for publicity stunts."
Meanwhile, another England based tabloid, The Sun has reported that the Nigerian's wages at the former Premier League outfit has risen despite the club's relegation.
According to the report, under the terms of the Martins' contract, his wages have just gone up nearly 10 per cent from £60,000 to £65,000 a week
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