NEWCASTLE UNITED have received formal offers for Obafemi Martins and Fabricio Coloccini.

The identities of the clubs to have made the bids is unknown, but it is the first time this summer that progress has been made in the transfer market.

With both internationals commanding wages of more than £60,000-a-week, the groups looking to purchase the club will be encouraged by news that the financial situation could be eased slightly.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham – also considering a move for Mark Viduka – have been credited with an interest in Martins in the past. While Newcastle would like to raise the £10m paid to Inter Milan in 2006 for Martins, they are unlikely to get anywhere near the same fee paid to Deportivo La Coruna for Coloccini.

The Argentina defender was dreadful in the Premier League last season, but he had built a good reputation in Spain prior to last season.

Both Real Zaragoza and Sevilla have both been linked with Coloccini but neither are likley to go higher that £5m.

But the fact there has been movement on the transfer front is thought to have had a positive effect on Mike Ashley’s attempts to sell.

Keith Harris, the chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce in charge of selling the club, is working in the hope a deal can be struck with one of the four consortia weighing up their options by the middle of next week.

Significant progress has been made in recent days and Harris hopes to be in a position to reveal the leading candidate to takeover the reins at St James’ Park within the next few days.

The developments came as a Malaysian consortium, whose representatives were given a tour of the stadium on Thursday, are believed to have lodged an offer in excess of £80m for the Championship club.