West Ham have launched an ambitious £8m bid to re-sign Demba Ba from Newcastle United.
The Hammers are looking to strengthen their strike-force ahead of the new Premier League season and see Demba Ba as the perfect man to lead the line next campaign.
The striker enjoyed his previous time at West Ham, and although it was short, it was very promising. Demba Ba notched up seven goals in just 12 appearances.
The London club allowed Ba to leave as a free agent when they were relegated as David Sullivan did not want to pay a striker £50k whilst in the Championship. A decision that David Sullivan describes as ‘his biggest mistake in football’. It’s understandable that a relegated club would look to cut the pay bill, but had Sullivan have known just how good Demba Ba was, there is no doubt about it, Ba would have remained a Hammer.
Ba really did like playing for The Hammers; he appreciated the huge support from the fans, he liked London and also made some very good friends at the club. He still meets up with Carlton Cole whenever he plays in the capital and despite wayward rumours it wasn’t a straight forward decision to leave. But when the Chairman didn’t want to pay his wages he had to leave, and Ba decided to join Newcastle.
Demba Ba has been phenomenal in his first season at St. James’ Park, scoring 16 times. His goal scoring ability has caught the eye of most clubs, and the bad news for Newcastle is that he could leave for very cheap. In order for Newcastle to secure the services of Ba they had to put a buyout cause into his contract that would allow him to speak to any other club.
David Sullivan spoke about the contract and said: “I’m told he’s got a £7 million get-out at Newcastle and he gets half the money over that. They keep denying it, but I think you’ll see in the summer he will leave Newcastle, or he’ll get a monstrous rise to stay there.
“If they get about £4 million, half will go to him, so if they sell him for £7 million, they’ll only net about three because they paid his agent £2 million to get him out of here. Getting £3 million is not bad, but for a player of his quality, it’s not fantastic.”
Knowing that such a little sum can open up talks with the player, Sullivan has lodged a bid of £8m bid in the hope that he can persuade the Senegalese forward to come back to Upton Park. It is thought that Demba Ba’s management team, which is headed by his brother, are interested in what the London club will offer. West Ham will offer near enough anything to bring Ba back and this is what makes Demba Ba’s management team interested.
However, the good news for Newcastle is that despite the bid, and the possible talks Ba is unlikely to want to give up Europa League football. The chances of Ba re-joining West Ham are very low; the player himself has said he is happy at the Toon.
Although he loved life in London he has admitted that the Newcastle faithful have been the best supporters he’s ever played in front of.
The striker said: “The season has been very great for the club and the whole city.”
“For me personally, I had a very good season.
“I scored 16 goals in half a season. It was very good. We play in the Europa League next season, so we’re very happy.
“The Premier League, for me, is probably the best league in the world.
“Nobody expected us to do so good. At the end we were there in fifth place, and it was absolutely amazing.
“I have to say these fans are just amazing.
“The best fans I’ve seen, and the best stadium I’ve played in so far.
Perhaps a more lucrative move to the likes of Arsenal, Man Utd of somewhere abroad mayt urn Demba Ba’s head but for the time being, West Ham is not interesting him.
But, money can anything, can’t it?
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