There are a lot of stories out today that link some top clubs with moving for Demba Ba in January, and the main one among them is Arsenal – although two other London clubs – Chelsea and Tottenham – are also reported to be interested in the Newcastle striker.
Demba Ba – are his agents putting out these stories?
The release clause in Ba’s contract is active again in January, as it was in June and July, and there were lots of stories out in the summer about clubs like Galatasaray being interested in the player, and it was thought the news was being put out by Demba Ba’s agents, who want him transferred, so they can make some big money.
It could well be the same thing is happening right now, as January approaches, and apparently Ba’s agents have already been talking to other clubs about Demba Ba’s availability. Why did Newcastle ever agree to such a release clause?
And Alan Pardew said after last night’s win that he was angry that details of Demba Ba’s contract negotiations at Newcastle had been leaked – so we wonder who’s doing the leaking?
In the summer, there was very little truth in the news about Ba – and we have to hope the same is true right now.
If it isn’t and Ba moves onto another club in January and leaves Newcastle – it will be a devastating blow to Newcastle.
And that’s an understatement.
We hope Mike Ashley will increase his offer to Demba Ba, but if Ba and his agents are after the biggest offer he should leave Newcastle, because he will not get that on Tyneside – not these days.
What do you think?
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151 comments so far
archaeomag
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #41OFF Topic
But . .
Carroll facing assault probe after Christmas party in Ireland
England striker Andy Carroll has been interviewed by police in Ireland after a photographer was allegedly assaulted.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-carroll-facing-assault-probe-ireland-094633685.html
obatoyou
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #42Point being Jonas could even start the next game with HBA.
simmo…..willo…..colo….santon
…………..anita……..tiote…………
……………….………………..
HBA……………………………….Jonas
……………….cisse……ba…………….
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #43Drop Marveaux??
Sadly it’ll probably happen, but seriously..
check the toastie
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #44Just proved the point last night that Marv is a super player and should have been ini the team way before now, very similar to the Ben Arfa treatment last year, Pardews lust to play Jonas, or Ba and Cisse in a 442 have held back the team all season.
I hope he has learnt his lesson at last, wont hold my breath. Also Anita has actually been given a run and shown wot a super little player he is, again wouldnt be surprised to see Perch and Jonas over Anita and Marv at Fulham.
Just makes me boil man, Pardew still needs to convince me, it will take some doing, it will take more than a cautious win over 10 men to do it.
Graeme
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Comment #45Tads, Tinman – there were story’s in the press when we signed him that we have a clause where if his knee goes, we don’t pay him compensation as the club cant insure against it. The knee also heavily influenced his salary package – smaller basic, bigger bonuses for games played, goals scored etc.
As a consequence Ba’s advisor’s insisted on the release clause so he could maximize his earning potential if his knee proved to be ok.
At the time, each was looking after their own situation!!
Ba, having proved his knee is a lot stronger than everyone thought, is bound to get a club wanting his proven scoring abilities.
How much would 12 – 15 goals be worth to, say, QPR?? If his goals kept them up they would make millions – so to offer him £5 million a year would seem like very good business!!
mattyNUFC
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Comment #46obatoyou
sadly, i think you’re right. AP will find an excuse to bench our best player to keep jonas in there
is this football club not in the state of mind that if you are not fully fit you shouldn’t even make the bench? if hba is benched in favour of jonas i’d be livid
all hypotheticals now though so not getting worked up about it
Jarra_Mag
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #47Indian,
Cisse was also a mile offside so a pass would have meant nothing. he probably knew that judging by the effort he put into the back heel.
They linked well last night as they were’nt playing on top of each other. they are too similar for 4-4-2
4-3-3 all the way and alternate the top 3?s positionings throughout a match to throw off opposition ala barca
ba can do a job on the left and up top, cisse on the right and up top and hba either side
hats off to cisse last night he ran and chased down everything and was unlucky not to score. i noticed a number of occasions he made a great run but the ball never came – he was getting frustated. goals will come
HTL
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Comment #48graeme
llambias said the club never have bonuses for goals scored/games played so not sure how true that is.
Ashley was nnoyed by oba martins shooting all the time as he had a goal bonus.
Ba got a clause at west ham too….he has had one there and at us since he had to go on strike for hoffenheim to sell him.
He is a nice man by all accounts but a selfish footballer…no problem with that…it’s just how he is.
toonLYF
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Comment #49Fulham…
———————-Krul——————–
Simpson–Williamson–Coloccini–Santon
————–Tiote——–Anita————–
Ben Arfa————Ba————Marveaux
——————–Cisse———————-
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Comment #50I thought it was pretty obvious why we started to sit back yesterday. When Ferguson replace Santon, Jonas stopped playing in the wide forward position and basically sat on top of Ferguson.
You could even see Ba shouting at Jonas and telling him to press high up the pitch. The high pressing game just doesn’t work with 2 up top, as shown by our post-Santon performance.
So what do we think? Does Ferguson need babysitting? He’s never shown himself to be a fantastic defender, but he has so much pace that he can nearly always get out of jail.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Comment #51I really cannot see Pardew dropping Jonas, especially away from home.
archaeomag
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Comment #52@TDS
He is not built like defender, & Guti may be following orders
lesh
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Comment #53Unable to post the link to hereisthecity.com so here’s copy of an article that may be of some interest –
‘ Jenny Leigh brings the lowdown on Liverpool’s potential transfer deals involving Daniel Sturridge, Demba Ba, Andy Carroll, and Theo Walcott.
I have it on good authority from a reliable source that Liverpool have unofficially agreed terms with Chelsea for Daniel Sturridge in a deal worth £12 million, plus incentives, and that as soon as the January transfer window opens, the sale will officially go through, the player’s agent already having opened preliminary talks with the club over personal terms and subject to them being agreed.
The same industry insider who had prior knowledge of the Raul Meireles deal and the Torres deal of 2011, has informed me that Sturridge’s move to Anfield is a ‘done deal’.
The most intriguing insight he gave me was that Liverpool are in negotiations with Newcastle United for a swap deal involving Andy Carroll and Demba Ba.
However, the deal is a long way from being wrapped up due to unprecedented complications, which could mean it does not happen at all, involving the Englishman’s loan to West Ham which presents two major problems – whilst his contract with the Hammers does contain a recall option, he has already been registered with two Premier League clubs this season which means, under FIFA regulations, he technically cannot play for a third.
However, due to Ba’s imminently expiring contract and his failure to agree new terms with Newcastle – the club are reluctant to sell him for his minimum fee release clause of £7.5 million before they line up a suitable replacement – they are willing to accept a swap deal that includes cash plus Carroll who could actually end up physically moving in May, not January, if they cannot resolve the registration issues with FIFA. (Refer to Chapter III: Article 5.3 of the FIFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players.)
The second problem is that West Ham’s loan of Carroll was subject to a clause where they would be granted the first option to buy him, provided they aren’t relegated and, subsequently, a legal duel between Liverpool, West Ham, and Andy Carroll looks set ensue as the player is keen to return to return to the North East.
There is little in the way of information about the contract Carroll has with West Ham and, equally, the deal that was struck between them and Liverpool – as all parties are under strict confidentiality agreements. Newcastle, however, aren’t, which is why manager Alan Pardew has been talking up a possible return for the striker – as an outsider he’s practically the only person involved who can comment on it and can’t be sued for it.
Meanwhile, it will not come as much of a surprise to hear that Liverpool are in for Walcott. What I have been told is that his transfer from Arsenal is currently hinging upon one thing – if Arsenal meet his £90,000 per week wage demands before January 1st, he will stay at the Emirates and, if not, Liverpool will be his destination of choice. The Reds are prepared to offer him his original demand of £100,000 per week.
My source described the Walcott situation as a ’50-50’ – the other factor being that Brendan Rodgers will only be allocated £20 million for January transfers by the board. The Sturridge deal plus the Ba deal would likely devour that budget and to bring Walcott in, they’d have to offload Stewart Downing to generate the surplus and, despite rumours linking him with Arsenal, Downing currently has yet to generate any real interest.’
Food for thought and debate??
rainrix
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #54Tds…. Fergie may have pace but a quadriplegic monkey could easily hold him off. Thats probably why jonas was back helping out. The more i watch fergie the more i realise he isn’t a FB. Positioning and tackling wise he’s decent its just far to easy to hold him off so he’s limited in what he can do defensively
So i’d say yes he does need babysitting 🙂
sirtoongospel
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Comment #55I liked the way they swapped around last night. By doing that BA scored 2 goals but Cisse could easily have scored too. Next time it might be Cisse who scores and not Demba. But the system worked well and when HBA comes back, I would like to see Pardew consider playing Marveaux ahead of Jonas to see how it works. Also, Cabaye might just find it hard to get back in if Anita continues his form. But that is a good thing. Marveaux had the ability to run at people a bit like HBA (although not as insanely good) but he also releases a pass at the right time. I can honestly see us winning at Fulham next week and if we do then we would suddenly be in a much healthier position. 2 good additions in January and all if a sudden we could be flying. And I still think Ba and Cisse can forge a partnership which sees them both score 20.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Comment #56TDS
I think he does need help. For me ferguson is not a good left back. He is too weak for one, just shrugged out of the way too easily.
Ferguson is ok as a winger as he has a good delivery and a trick in him but not good enough at defending.
Most of his games for Northern Ireland have been as a winger…he just isn’t a defender in my eyes.
tequilamag
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Comment #57TDS I like Fergie but am not sold on the idea of him being a FB. He played poorly agains Man U and I think that is why Jonas started playing a lot deeper to protect him.
MacToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Comment #58Lesh, interesting stuff but as it says there are so many ifs and buts about Carroll so puts a question mark over the whole article in my books.
As for Downing generating money…. ha ha ha ha
Priceless.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #59those rumours sound wide of the mark.
Sturridge yes..i can see that.
walcott….can’t see that one happening….he wouldn’t get the central role he wants at liverpool with sturridge and suarez there
Ba…could see that….i think he would be interested if he got a huge contract offer..clearly wants that off us but if we wont pay him that he might go elsewhere
not sure carroll would return though….don’t see why liverpool would do a deal of carrol and cash for ba when they just need to pay 7.5mil and he is theres
they would get more than that for carroll…bit of nonsense i think but a good read
tequilamag
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #60Lesh, it would seem unlikely that we would swap Ba for a player we can`t use till next year. But stranger things have happened.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Comment #61That whole ‘article’ is awful.
For starters, since when has Ba had an imminently expiring contract…?
Jail for Ashley
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Comment #62”bit of nonsense i think but a good read’
I’ll second that.
mattyNUFC
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Comment #63TDS
year and a half left
doesnt sound wide of the mark; liverpool have been linked to all 3 in the past
and we know how much AP thinks of Carroll
what a waste if he ends up back here. get with it, Alan
Dannyo
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Comment #64@TDS
I spotted your posts on Jonas and Marveux.
If Marveux is to stay in the team, Jonas would have to let out imo.
I dunno what’s up with Jonas, but he’s utterly toothless these days, not even taking people on and winning the free kicks.
Could be a confidence issue, but tbh, Jonas had a downwards spirals starting Christmas last year.
Jonas subbing off last night, i dunno what it was, but it’s probably the first time i’ve seen him getting subbed off in the last year, outside injury.
AP kept Marv on and took Jonas off.
A step towards something different?
Rotonda heights
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Comment #65If Ba goes, rather than the awful prospect of getting an injury prone, non – scoring, off the field, totally 1 dimensional problem in Andy carroll in exchange, why not just play Benny and Marv either side of Cisse in a 433, with Shola, Campbell and Obertan covering just 1 central striker.
Cisse and Ba worked far better yesterday in a 433, but if Ba is away I don’t think it’s necessarily the end of the world and I think Cisse would come in to hs own again as the main man.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Comment #66matty
It’s complete crap, I could have put together that story. Seeing as we’re apparently going to get about £4m for Ba if he activates his release clause, an ‘imminently expiring’ contract (over a year and a half) isn’t exactly a big deal.
It’s taking 3 rumours, and rambling on about them for 10 minutes. It’s how people feed their egos by acting like they have inside information over the internet.
And as someone said, why exactly would Liverpool offer cash plus Carroll, when they could have Ba for £7m? Erm…
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Comment #67Rotonda
Agreed. We don’t need to replace Ba with an average striker – we already have a world class one.
Unfortunately, as matty said, it’s pretty clear how much AP admires Carroll.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #68In the summer I wanted Carroll to return. I thought he would be good for us.
After seeing him at west ham I couldn’t have changed my mind more. The team is set up for him and he still can’t score. He has spent more time injured than fit. If reports are true he is still getting in trouble.
Move on and get a pacey striker which is the one aspect of our squad we lack.
MacToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #69I don’t actually see Ba as a Brendan Rogers player but hey I might be proved wrong, I’d guess he’s more likely interesting the likes of dodgy ‘Arry Redknapp.
I hear Redknapp’s getting paid £3 million before tax and you guessed it £3 mil after tax too!
MacToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Comment #70Rogers type of player*
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Comment #71mactoon
I thoought he would be on more than that.
Redknapp has been linked with bent, defoe, crouch and now Ba.
With his history and the idiot fernades in charge at QPR there will be countless stories from there the next month.
mattyNUFC
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #72TDS
really hope you’re right. Also hope AP is just talking Carroll up to activate this rumored (probably that) sell-on fee, but I don’t think so. If Ba goes I’m pretty positive Carroll is who he’ll go for.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #73matty
well we seemed to be stumping up for 2 striker in the summer.
de jong and carroll.
not sure why though as they are totally different players and each one would require a totally different system. It seems to me that once we couldn’t get de jong we should have been looking for a similar player….not carroll.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Comment #74matty
also hopefully liverpool will have so much hatred for us they will quote a price ashley will never get close to paying
mattyNUFC
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Comment #75TS
we can only hope
lesh
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #76Aye Mac, Tequila, there are many ifs and buts attached to the Carroll, Ba story and it’s probably all tripe written for the benefit of our bin-dipping friend, to give them some ….if that’d ever be possible…… it beggars belief that they’re even talking up the possibility of finishing 4th!
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #77Just watched the extended highlights of last nights match.
Wigan offered absolutely nothing. I read a couple on here claiming they were all over us in the second half.
I must say, I really do not see it.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Comment #78TDS
Wigan came out on the attack for first 10 mins of second half but didn’t really create a proper goal scoring chance.
I don’t think krul had much to do at all.
We just sat off a little too much but Pardew naturally wants to protect a 2 goal lead after we have lost 4 on the spin.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Comment #79Also, why on earth did I read someone say that Krul was one of our worst players……?
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #80Mac toon
Completly agree, cant see how ba would fit in a liverpool rodgers like his small speedy players!
Sage/rotonda
Couldnt agree more about carroll really dont undetstand the hype and the clamour to try and get him back (purely because he’s a local??) the whole west ham team is set up purely to get him service and he still couldn’t hit a barn door genuinly think he’s a one trick pony who’s been well and truly sussed! Plus he’s crocked he’s spent more time on the physio table in half a season than demba “ticking time bomb” ba has in his entire premier league career!
TDS
About fergie, i think he does need babysitting.
I said last night once he came on wigan started to target us down that side.
I think the reason jonas started sitting deep was that fergie was getting dragged out of position chasing balls up by the half way line, they’d do a couple of passes, take him out the game and then colo was getting dragged across to cover leaving acre’s of space in the middle once jonas dropped it meant colo could carry on doing what he does best!