Newcastle will try to keep Demba Ba at Newcastle, but they could lose him in January if money bags Manchester City or PSG come after him.
Demba Ba in action last Wednesday
The release clause in Ba’s Newcastle contract sets the release fee at somewhere south of £7M, at least according to Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who continues to talk about the issue, when he probably shouldn’t.
But the news is that Newcastle will fight to keep Demba Ba on Tyneside, and could be willing to double the Senegal striker’s wages to keep him on Tyneside.
While this news in the Mirror may be made-up news, we hope Newcastle are moving fast to keep the striker at Newcastle, and if he has to leave then maybe he goes in the summer for around £40M, and we’re only half joking about that.
Ba seems to have proved that his bad knee can stand up to the strenuous physical demands of the Premier League, and he already has 15 goals for Newcastle this season, and the lad looked almost unplayable last Wednesday night against Manchester United.
We published a story from a report in France this morning that Ba said he would be interested in joining another money-bags club, PSG, since they are now recruiting big time under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, and could offer Demba Ba massive wages.
But with the release clause now an open book on his contract, Newcastle could have top clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, PSG and Tottenham all after the player this month, and even Manchester United could be interested.
Maybe it’s time for Newcastle to become a top club again by keeping him at Newcastle, by whatever means they can do that.
The Senegal international is believed to earn about £30K a week on Tyneside, but we think that’s nothing but a glorified guess, and his contract is probably based on incentives such as appearances and goals scored, so he may still be doing quite well financially on Tyneside.
The contract may well be heavily incentives-based because when he was signed in June, there was still a doubt about his knee, after he failed a medical at Stoke City last January.
The Telegraph is reporting that his contract is £35K/week with £20K per appearance (he’s made 21 appearances for Newcastle this season), but it would be a huge surprise if goals scored wasn’t one of the incentives.
Newcastle have a salary cap that probably tops out at around £50K/week for any new player, but owner Mike Ashley could make an exception to that for Ba.
But there seems an imminent danger he could be bought out, if his contract is not changed quickly – and this month, if that is possible.
It’s hardly surprising that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has upset the Newcastle hierarchy by spilling the beans last Friday, and talking about it further on Monday, and Harry always seems to be far too cozy with the press.
Newcastle will hope that Ba and Senegal do well in the African Cup of Nations, and that he will be out there playing in the tournament through January.
Owner Mike Ashley is a savvy businessman, and we have to hope the club are doing something to protect themselves from losing a world class player for peanuts.
Removing the release clause would at least allow Newcastle to ask for a massive fee for the Senegal striker, or at least demand one, either this month or in the summer.
And of course we should point out in all of this, we are all assuming Harry Redknapp is right, and there is indeed a release clause in Ba’s current Newcastle contract.
It wouldn’t surpise us too much if this is all made up nonsense.
We hope it’s all made up nonsense. 😀
Comments welcome.
108 comments so far
GeordieToon89
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Comment #1A read the other day he’s on £30k per week basic contract and £30k per week based on bonuses so while hes been here hes really been on £60k per week
JackButler
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Comment #2It’s a not brainer to offer him a new contract, would love someone to shut Harry’s dirty mouth for him. Just hope they loose Modric to Chelsea and Bale to Barca, the guy is corrupt and the sooner he leave club football the batter as far as I’m concerned
MacToon
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Comment #3It’s all guess work atm, the only people who know for sure are the ones who arranged the contract and the ones that signed it oh and good old ‘Arry ofc.
We’re just gonna have to wait and see what happens.
boater
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Comment #4Ashley’s love for a highly incentivised deal looks to have backfired spectacularly here, and those little chubby legs of his are furiously back peddling to get Ba on a new watertight deal. The problem is that Ba has all the power and his demands could smash the wage system. What’s more he still has a knee condition in the background so it may end up costing Ashley in the long run if he is tied to a mammoth deal and that knee goes. What to do? Not selling to a premier rival may be the best we can hope for. Are we any closer to deals for Colo, Guthrie and Simmo? Have they learned nowt?
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Comment #5LFGUAD
I have enjoyed some of your recent posts,but come on man could Pardew have coped with an extra centre back,a pacey proven striker and a player who’s CV had prefered position,leftback written on it,
StuW
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Comment #6From what I heard, he is nearer to 40k p/w, and then appearance and goal bonuses, which he is getting nearly every week, which apparently adds up to just under the 50k p/w mark. He has been a revelation, and I don’t think he will leave any time soon if I am honest. I don’t think the club are stupid enough to put a 7m clause in his contract, especially with the great scoring record he had before he joined the club. 15m/20m maybe, but not 7m.
Ayhooo….very quiet on the market from us. I was hoping we would make a move early Jan, so we are not rushing around at last minute again.
mattyNUFC
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:43 PM
Comment #7i thought i heard he was on 40k. either way, it’s definitely not lower than 30k and setting aside any supposed bonuses, no higher than 40k.
80k seems more than fair to me
when’s redknapp’s court date again? can’t wait for that!
StuW
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Comment #8‘Arry talks out of his arse anyway, about as reliable as our good old transfer friend over on twitter, msidouglas.
LGFUAD21
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Comment #9Simple really. Get Smith to f off and give him a flat £60k/week
IE give him it now in knowledge that him and Loven are leaving in summer.
He’s not making bench. Neither is Loven. I know we need depth but im thinking come summer maybe sell Loven and Best and replace with 1 striker if we still have Demba.
I know it’d make sense to do Shola but I could never suggest that blaspheme. Purely for his character.
We have too much mediocrity up front.
JackButler
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Comment #10I completely agree with the type of player were have brought into the club. Technically excellent, young and at relatively low transfer fee’s, the only issue I have is we have not brought enough of them in.
By the way, Colin has posted on Twitter that Ba is leaving, he’ll stay for sure now 😉
mattyNUFC
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Comment #11stuw
you beat me to his purported wage, but as far as ashley not putting in a higher clause, you have to understand NO ONE else went after him this summer who would be considered, or even argued to be a bigger club than us. We were the cream of the crop if there even were other clubs. making a quick 5mil for nothing would not have been bad business in anyone’s eyes at that time. Yes he had a good games/goal ratio, yes I truly believed he could hit the heights he has, but not many people did, and not many thought his record at west ham would have any longevity to it. In consideration, truly everyone lost out and if we do as well, so be it. I’m just thrilled to be able to’ve seen the things he’s done so far, and hopefully may it continue on for some time
boater
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:49 PM
Comment #12Stuw – judging by press reaction and the lack of comment from NUFC, it’s safe to assume there is a release clause at £7m or less. Hopefully our silence is due to us looking at the legal situation and preparing a new deal for Ba’s approval before the ACON starts.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:51 PM
Comment #13StuW
Its not about the club being too stupid not realise a clause has been inserted its about thrashing out a deal between the agent MA’s money people ie DL and obviously they’ve settled on a lower wage but for a low buy out clause not only have the club sanctioned the deal they have been totally complicit in the negotiation.
StuW
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:51 PM
Comment #14@mattyNUFC
I see what you mean, but the club wouldn’t put a 7m clause on him if they thought he was going to fail, no club would have paid 3m for him before the summer. We pulled off the biggest coup ot the season, and I honestly do not think Ba has any intention of leaving yet.
I can see him staying until end of season, to see how we finish, and then make a judgement.
GeordieToon89
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:52 PM
Comment #15no fecker in the world should be earning 80k per week lmao
mattyNUFC
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Comment #16boater,
we can only hope. As Ed said though, everything is in Ba’s hands right now. I think he’s a good lad, would never hold anything against him even if he did leave this window, but I’m hoping for the best. Again, either way, I truly believe he’s a consummate professional and if he does leave this window, as much as it would hurt and altogether suck, it’s only because we cannot match his immediate ambition. In footballing terms, he’s well beyond his middle-age
JackButler
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Comment #17The club have been caught with their pants down with the Ba contract, lets see how quick they are to react and rectify the situation
StuW
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Comment #18TBH, I don’t think the club will comment whether there is a clause or not. They will keep all contract related things quiet, and as I said earlier, ‘Arry is about as reliable as Colin on twitter TBH
JackButler
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Comment #19For me the fact that Harry talks about someone else’s players and their contracts sums up the type of man he is
boater
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Comment #20Every single time I click on newsnow/nufc there is a new team linked to Ba – it’s miserable. Thanks Harry. Man Utd now. Telegraph reckons he intends to stay for the season anyway.
mattyNUFC
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Comment #21stu, in fairness though it seems to be well below 7mil. my estimate is probably 4-5 mil which seems about right. Teams’ve been mugged for more getting less
Jail for Ashley
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:57 PM
Comment #22StuW
Dont you get it mate,the clause hasnt been the clubs idea Ba’s agent obviously uses it as a bargaining tool,do you think West Ham would have offered a clause that allowed him to leave for free given a better option.
GeordieToon89
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Comment #23if Ba goes to PSG he’s only be a bench warmer anyways, same with City
mattyNUFC
Jan 9, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Comment #24….and not condoning it at all, but karren brady did what probably 99% of folks would do….running their mouths off to whoever will listen about the clause. think of the slap in the face the David’s and even some of the fans felt when they paid 7mil for him and a few months later for zero net gain was wearing someone else’s colours?
JackButler
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Comment #25There was a Spurs fan on TalkSport yesterday saying Spurs don’t want Ba as he’s not good enough to play for such an established club
Poor disillusioned fool
MacToon
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Comment #26“lets see how quick they are to react and rectify the situation”
They’ll probably fly out on holiday somewhere……
Graeme
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Comment #27I just hope NUFC (FCB) have sanctioned a new contract, as they did for Tiote, once he had played and proved he was even better than Mr Carr said he was!!
This could have been delivered to him days ago (Couriers work in Africa, believe me lol). We have to have the belief that Lambsarse is on the ball and this will be resolved before many days go past!!
As fans, we can but pray they are working to resolve this before its too late!!!!!
StuW
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Comment #28At the same time, I don’t think Ba will leave. I think he will see how this season plays out before he makes the choice.
boater
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Comment #29No I don’t think Ba had any intention of leaving last week – but now the clause is common knowledge the bids will come in from every top team in England in the next week and beyond.. a massive new deal is the prize along with CL football this season or next. What do you think his agent will be advising now? Sorry to sound negative but it isn’t looking good.
JackButler
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Comment #30boater – At best Ba’s agent will be telling him to wait until the summer and assess his option then, and thats the best we can hope for at the moment
Jail for Ashley
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Comment #31Well’at least it stopped me worrying about Tiote leaving now.
JackButler
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Comment #32Jail for Ashley – It’s all part of Ashley’s master plan, get everyone talking and worrying about Ba’s contract and then sell Tiote Colo, Krul and Cabaye and hope no one notices 😉
MacToon
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:10 AM
Comment #33Jail, thanks for reminding us……………..
JackButler
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Comment #34Supporting this club should come with an official health warning
Jail for Ashley
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Comment #35Cunning,and just as I was starting to like him : )
boater
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Comment #36JB – that’s best case. At least Ashley will be fighting in the corner of the toon supporters on this one for a change.
mattyNUFC
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Comment #37JB
it was pretty disheartening to wake up this morning and see these rumours no longer gather pace but full blown. I took my mind off of it and realized there’s enough to worry about in life without having to worry about player’s leaving. If we won all the time and had a good team would it be as fun? …..Ok, of course it would, but you get my point 🙂
boater
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:16 AM
Comment #38Seems the club source is up later than usual tonight:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9003471/Manchester-United-and-Tottenham-Hotspur-lead-chase-for-Newcastle-Uniteds-in-form-striker-Demba-Ba.html?
boater
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:19 AM
Comment #39Anyways on a final note my team for sunday:
krulo
simmo/colo/willo/santo/
arfo/cabayo/guthro/jono
vuckico
sholo
JackButler
Jan 10, 2012 at 12:19 AM
Comment #40matty – Yeah mate i get the point, it keeps us all talking/arguing. My misses reckons she’s going on holiday without me for the next transfer window as she reckons she’s walking on egg shells all the time I check to see if anything is happening