Pardew uncertain of Ba future at Newcastle

21-Dec-2012 3:15:00 AM

The Magpies boss is unsure whether the Senegalese striker will still be at St James' Park come the end of the January transfer window due to release clause in his contract

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted he cannot guarantee striker Demba Ba will still be at the club following the conclusion of the January transfer window.

The former West Ham striker has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave the Magpies should another club lodge a bid in the region of £7 million.

Pardew has conceded that due to the terms of the 27-year-old's contract it will be up the him whether he decides to stay at St James’ Park or not.

"It's unfortunate that the contract he has leaves open a lot of questions because we have this clause and every window that comes around, I have to answer the same questions," Pardew told reporters.

"It would be disappointing for him to leave in this window for this club and for his team-mates here, but the decision will be his, ultimately, because that clause is there.

"The most important things we have got with Demba is he is someone who is a goalscorer and he is scoring goals, and that's very, very important to a side. His commitment to and work-rate for the team, I don't fault."

Ba recently insinuated that a move to Arsenal, who have a reported interest in him, would be an attractive proposition should he wish to leave Newcastle.

Pardew has revealed no disciplinary action will be taken against the striker for the interview which he believes was taken out of context due to a poor translation into English.

He said: "I have had to because it was quoted in England not correctly, and that's unfair on Demba and unfair on us.

"There will be no disciplinary procedure against him. There was one procedural matter where he could have informed us and should have, really, but that's neither here nor there.

"The most important thing for me is that the content of that conversation was about trying to turn the situation around, like all of us.

"We are professional people, we want to win. That's what we are paid for and I have got no problem with anything he said in that interview."

Inside Goal.Com

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