Demba Ba back on the radar

In a heartbeat I'd have this lad back...
We've missed him imho.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/demba-ba-could-offered-back-7035790?

Newcastle United are set to be offered Demba Ba back this summer.

The Chronicle understands that the Magpies are likely to be included on a list of potential suitors for the former Toon striker with Ba set for the exit door at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Newcastle have drawn up a summer shortlist of targets with a striker sitting at the top of it.

United were interested in bringing back Ba on loan last summer but were quoted a £3million fee for his services this term by Chelsea.

Newcastle turned down the chance back then and Ba has since been used fleetingly by Jose Mourinho before being told he can leave after just a season and a half.

Ba was signed by Rafa Benitez in January 2013 and has started just 14 Premier League games since.

Chelsea are reportedly poised to splash out £50million on Diego Costa this summer from Atletico Madrid which means that Ba would slip even further down the pecking order.

Sources at Stamford Bridge say that while the Blues are ready to let him go, they would be looking to recoup the £7million they paid for the Senegal international 18 months ago.

He still has two years left on his current deal. With Newcastle’s chances of holding on to Loic Remy looking increasingly unlikely, with Arsenal keen on the 13-goal top scorer, they could turn back to Ba.

The Senegal striker scored an impressive 29 goals in 51 Premier League starts for Newcastle between 2011 and 2013.

Ba’s dream move would be a switch to PSG but Benitez is still an admirer of the player and Napoli might also be an option for him. Besiktas, Trabzonspor, AS Roma and Inter Milan have also kept tabs on the Chelsea striker.

Ba has made it clear that first-team football is high on his priority list and with Remy’s future in the balance on Tyneside, Shola Ameobi coming to the end of his contract and Papiss Cisse likely to start pre-season in the treatment room, he would offer the Magpies a reliable and proven option to lead the line at St James’ Park. Ba said recently: “I want to play the full 90 minutes, get the maximum number of games and enjoy myself. I’ve not done that very much this season, and I doubt things will change for me here.

“Jose Mourinho has never explained his decisions to me. I am honestly surprised that I have been this patient. Earlier in my career I would have cracked up or blown a fuse.”

Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa is interesting Serie A outfit AS Roma. The French playmaker could be moved on this summer after two dressing room bust-ups with Alan Pardew in the games against Manchester United and Stoke City.

Ben Arfa still has one year left on his contract and it remains to be seen whether he is involved on Monday night against Arsenal.

 

I'd take Demba back even if he rolled onto the pitch in a wheelchair.

 

I have a very vivid image of that now... lol

 

Not worth £7m, and not part of the problem. Demba in THIS team would just add to the sulking. We need a Shane Long type who will always give it 100%.

 

It would be worth it for £3 or £4million. £7million? Never going to happen what with his age.

 

Ba is a sulky ****er. He can get ****ed with my compliments.

 

He'd "score" more than anybody else we could realistically sign without your compliments or best wishes, I think

 

So was Bellamy fella but he got goals too.

 

You see I liked Bellamy and that was Souness's doing. The situation with Ba - the way he threw his toys out of the pram because he wasn't the main striker anymore - I found repulsive. Really shown his jealous streak and I really don't want him back here mate.

 

But he was right, Cisse's ****e

I will never ever castigate a player for thinking they know better than Pardew, as they most likely do! Same with Bellamy/Robert with Souness

 

Nah! Don't want this Ba-g of tripe back!

 

Happily take Demba back. Was great for us and puts Cisse to shame in all round game. Again its about improving the squad. He would massively improve our squad. Shane Long would also have been a great signing. No chance of happening now.

 

He's 29, he still has years ahead of him. We don't need everyone we buy to last 5+ years.

 

No, but we do need everyone we buy to be sold of for sale for at least 4x their value in a year or two.

 

Demba Ba back for £7m?

If Ashley would splash £3m on him I'd be amazed!

Never going to happen for that money. He's 'too old' for the club's buying policy and it will have been seen as great business making a full £7m profit on the free transfer we got from West Ham

 

What's this "sulking" Ba is supposed to have done ? Saying (or allowing his brother to say) that he wanted to play through the middle, and scoring goals in the meantime ?

Take sulking of that sort all day long

 

I'd take him back for a couple of million.

 

I'd have him back, yes.

 

No thanks, we move forward and never back.

 

I'd say since he went we've moved back quite quickly mate.