There is news on talkSPORT today that Demba Ba agreed terms with Newcastle United on Friday evening.
Demba Ba – terms agreed and will join Newcastle?
And the further news is that the 6’3″ Senegal striker could even be joining Newcastle early next week, but of course we have no idea if this story is true.
However, the Newcastle Journal on Saturday said he was a real target of Newcastle’s, to replace departed striker Andy Carroll, so at least there’s a little bit of consistency there.
Demba Ba has played 10 times for Senegal with 3 goals and in the Premier League this year he played 13 times for relegated West Ham United, and scored a good 7 goals, and looked very good at the London club.
Demba Ba is now a free agent, thanks to him demanding a release clause in the West Ham contract he signed in January, that if West Ham were relegated he would become a free agent – and that’s exactly what has happened.
So the player would be a decent acquisition for Newcastle, but of course the one big doubt about the striker, is that he seems to have a bit of a knee problem.
As everybody now knows, the player failed a medical st Stoke City in January, and after that Stoke officials called the knee – a disaster waiting to happen.
At the time Ba was on the brink of a £6M move to the Potters from Hoffenheim, , but the deal dropped through after Stoke expressed concerns over the player’s fitness.
And the very same thing could happen at Newcastle, and the Magpies are going to want to give the player a very stringent medical, and even talk to the Stoke medical team, to ensure his knee is up to the physical requirements of the English Premier League.
In 116 games he has played for German club 1899 Hoffenheim and West Ham United he has scored 47 goals, and looks a natural when it comes to putting that ball in the back of the net, and he’s a very good header of the ball too.
Comments welcome.
95 comments so far
WWJBD
Jun 12, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Comment #81Dannyo
Yeah I agree but you never know MA is all about investment and if Sturridge were to be a star his price tag could be 30-50 million in a couple years
But I doubt we are looking at him or ever were in all honesty
NottsGeordie
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Comment #82Ed Harrison
Every time of go off the website i have to log in, it use to just make me log in when i switched on the laptop but now its making me log on every time :S
WWJBD @75
That would be perfect… 20 million is probably a bit high but worth it. If he scores over 15 goals buy him, if not just dont take up the option.
WWJBD
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Comment #83Notts
I still think if we are to go for him 3-5 mill up front to get the loan and the rest next year depending on how he does, where we finish and his wishes would be a good deal for both clubs
But again I doubt wre are after him
WWJBD
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Comment #84Any truth in the rumour Ba is on a plane to the north today/now?
Nufc_mo
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Comment #85Jonathan Soriano
32 goals in 37 games for Barcelona B team. 25 years old.!
GoalsBringSmiles
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Comment #86Gorgonzola
‘shiiiiittt… I hope we dont get a messed knee but hell he is a great player…’
This sentence makes no sense. Also, ‘great player’? Based on what exactly?
Angryman the (Mildly) Angry fan
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Comment #87Fit as a fiddle today!
Wonder why a fiddle would be fit???
Mmmm I ponder…
GoalsBringSmiles
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Comment #88And Ed, the numbered presentation is much better than seperate pages, unless you can have newer comments somehow appear on the first page and ascend to the last. The problem is scrolling through five pages of comments if you are a reader like me who likes to read them from the start.
Angryman the (Mildly) Angry fan
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Comment #89Nufc_mo
That malt loaf bloke from Barcelona b!
With a scoring record like that… Why isn’t he in the first team picture, and why arent any of the big guns looking to snap him up??
Suspicious!
stuckdownsouth
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Comment #90BA is a great signing.
He played 97 times for the ‘Holfs’ between 2009-2011, so he is not injury prone!!!!
He has a knee problem that makes it difficult for a club to get insurance. Hopefully the deal relies heavily on appearance bonuses.
And please folks stop mentioning Sturridge, he is not for sale!
NottsGeordie
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #91Agree with GoalsBringSmiles…
WWJBD
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Comment #92Every player is for sale
Benton Toon Exile
Jun 12, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #93Chelsea have stated Sturidge is part of their squad for next season, so that’s to bed.
Demba Ba is a better player than Carroll was when we sold him…So why should’t he get the number 9 shirt?
GoalsBringSmiles
Jun 12, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Comment #94Oleg I agree with your comments if anything you are too kind to Ashley in giving him 10m of the AC fee. The payment of wages would have surely been set aside before the sale of AC and so as promised the full 35m should be invested in buying new players. This 35m should not be anything to do with wages, be it wages of existing players or the wages of those we sign. A clever stunt of Ashley’s PR team is that they often quote transfer fees inclusive of wages, a stunt which makes it look like he’s spending more on a player. We need 35m spent on players then, but specifically on there transfer fees.
Also, think back Newcastle United fans to the first half of last season with AC still in the squad. Did we not expect Newcastle to spend in the coming January window, and then the following summer in order to bolster an exciting looking, yet threadbare by PL standards squad? What then of the money Ashley would have spent? Why only demand the 35m from AC’s sale? And indeed, why accept mere rumour of signing half-proven dubious plauyers like Ba, when true class is out there for the money we should be able to afford as a club.
stephen1971
Jun 13, 2011 at 6:52 PM
Comment #95don,t hear anyone complaining about signing ben arfa or gosling ? any player is a dam risk, just look at the intensity of the game these days and name me a player who was,nt injured at one time during last season for us, the lad ba played well for the hammers when there confidence was rock bottom , he comes free , no brainer to me