Recent comments from Obafemi Martins, the former Newcastle United and Inter Milan striker indicate his willingness to put pen to paper on a contract extension with his Major League Soccer club the Seattle Sounders, but the club is in no hurry to rip up the current deal of the player in a hurry as they play the waiting game.

Adrian Hanauer, the General Manager and part owner of the MLS franchise confirmed to reporters this past week that the Nigerian has a contract with the club that runs through to 2015 with the clause of an extra year included in that contract as well.

He said that they love Martins and he hopes that he wants to be at the club and that the club can have him for a long time to come. However, he went on to add that there is nothing guaranteed in football, money is the most important factor here and the players also have a very limited career.

The Seattle Sounders GM went on to add that if there is an opportunity for a player and the club feels that they are getting a good deal and the player is compensated well also, then sometimes, players are transacted. He did say, however, that they have held talks with Martins and his representatives about a renewal but there is nothing certain in football.

The former Nigerian international is enjoying a stellar season at the Seattle Sounders having already scored eight goals and provided six assists. And this could be the last chance that the Nigerian has of bagging a lucrative payday with time slowly running out on his career.

Although still only 29, Martins has lost a yard of pace but that striker’s instinct has kept him going with the Sounders in the MLS this season.

Clint Dempsey will be a major absentee for Seattle Sounders in the next two matches, as one of the club’s designated star players will be suspended. Apart from missing the next two league matches for Seattle Sounders, Dempsey he will also be disappointed that he will not have the opportunity to impress US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann ahead of the friendly with Mexico. This is one of the few opportunities for the US players to stake a claim in the squad for World Cup 2014. Klinsmann has stated that he has no favourites and that the positions are open to all players.

Even though this was just a friendly match, Dempsey says that there is a lot at stake for both nations involved. Dempsey has been given this suspension for his violent conduct against Toronto player Mark Bloom when the two sides played out a 2-1 match. Seattle came out on the wrong side of the scoreline after this encounter. This was the first defeat of the season for Sigi Schmid and his men. They had opened the season with a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. Seattle will be looking to recover their form when they take on Montreal Impact in the next match.

”Disappointed. I don’t agree with it. It is what it is and move on. It’s a friendly, it’s not a World Cup qualifier so there’s not much pressure that there would be if it was a World Cup qualifying game. But it’s still exciting to represent your country and to play against one of your rivals,” said Dempsey about his punishment and the upcoming friendly match against Mexico. ”It’s very disappointing to see Clint be the only person punished from this game. There is a foul against him in the sixth minute that should have been a red card,” said Klinsmann about the incident.