Given Demba Ba’s form for Newcastle United this season, it is inevitable that the Senegalese striker will be the subject of much interest from other Premier League clubs. Ba’s 15 league goals put him only behind Arsenal’s Robin van Persie in Premier League top goal scorers’ chart and his finish against Manchester United in the week was sublime. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Demba Ba has gone one step too far.
With December Premier League Player of the Month Demba Ba going off the play for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations this week, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed his interest in the lover of strawberry syrup, but there was also a much bigger revelation. From a press conference with Redknapp, it was revealed that Demba Ba has a release clause in his contract with Newcastle, which will be something of a concern for Magpies fans.
This is what Harry Redknapp said in the press conference yesterday when he was asked about a possible release clause for Demba Ba. Harry said “They say there’s a release clause in his contract – that’s what we all hear.” So if it wasn’t already, Ba’s release clause is now common knowledge and the rumours doing the rounds today in the Daily Mail are that the fee is as little as £10 million. That’s peanuts for a striker in the form Demba Ba’s in, so it looks like Alan Pardew might have a fight on his hands to keep Ba at St James’ Park this month.
In an ideal world Newcastle manager Alan Pardew would tell his fellow Premier League managers where to go, but it isn’t as simple as that when big money’s involved as was shown by Liverpool’s purchase of Andy Carroll this time last year. However, there are a couple of things in Newcastle’s favour, with the main one being Demba Ba himself. Ba seems to be a really down to earth guy and with him doing so well at Newcastle, he might be reluctant to move on again so soon and although it’s a rarity these days, a footballer might actually show some loyalty.
Also, Ba is of course on his way to Africa, so it might be slightly more difficult for clubs to negotiate a deal for Demba. He won’t return until February, so the deadline day madness might not come about. Then there’s the issue with his knee. Ba might have proved his fitness this season, but in the back of any manager’s mind must be a few nagging doubts. Surgeons hammered a 25cm nail into Ba’s right leg, so the fact that he’s been injury-free of late is something of a minor miracle.
Finally, would astute businessman Mike Ashley be so naïve as to put such a low release clause on Demba Ba? If he did, then I’d have thought the Newcastle hierarchy would have been desperately trying to tie Ba down to a new deal and put them in a position of power when clubs did come knocking. If Ba did leave for around £10 million it would be a travesty, so let’s just hope Ashley and Pardew can tell Tottenham and the rest where to go…
Written by the Gallowgate Gob for NothingButNewcastle.com.
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Old ‘arry obviously has the fear!
Trying to throw a spanner in the works of a team he sees as making headway into his nosebleed position in the league.
Skank!
We just have to forget the issue of Demba Ba,because newcastle cannot offload their only inform striker.
apparently he’s been reduced to 5m lol
A down to earth guy who might show some loyalty? Are you mad? if he wants to go to a better club he’ll be off – and trust me, as a west ham fan i am loath to suggest spurs are a better club. Look at the way he jumped the sinking west ham ship as soon as we were relegated, activating his release clause then, even though when he signed he was going on about west ham being a big club and the club he wanted to come to in english football – what a load of rubbish. Hes a bit of a mercenary, and newcastle will be lucky to keep him if he remains in this vein of form – not only spurs will be wanting him and he will be off before you can correctly spell his name.
As a Spurs fan, I can fully appreciate the anger felt by the barcodes(term of endearment), great fans and people but if a club like Spurs come knocking then it is going to be tempting for the player. Not so long ago Cheatski tried it on with Modric and us Spurs fans all felt blinding anger about that so fully understand how you guys feel particularly with the form Ba is in at the moment. Thankfully our Chairman stood firm over the Modric affair. Demba has played his way into the window and with arguably better players around him, theres no telling what he can achieve which must be in his mind. If there is indeed a buy out clause written into his contract, £10M seems low for this player but I wouldnt believe anything written in the Daily Fail. Personally the bally hoo is media driven and the Daily Fail is the chief instigator but I have a feeling that Ba will stay with Newcastle for now however, Mike Ashley is reported to have a soft spot for Spurs so you never know.
dont blame Harry Redknap for disclosing this – I am a little surprised at the reaction to it especially if he has ideas himself about Ba. He is not so daft as to broadcast something where he has an interest – where and with whom has he had an interview?
If it IS true then blame the person at your end who allowed such a low figure to be put into his contract – it’s nobody elses fault other than somebody at NUFC
Good old ‘Arry. Bring in this Ba geezer because we don’t see Adebayor staying for another season on his ridiculous salary demands. If he was scoring 25 to 30 a season, we wouldn’t mind…but he won’t. Bring in Samba as well and we’re sorted.
if and its a big if,there is a buy-out clause, it would be public knowledge through 2 possible sources, 1- newcastle want to cash in or 2-his agent wants to cash in,all gobshite arry has done is answer a question regarding a player,lets remember,the same club got 35 million for the last big striker that showed some form for 3 months…