Was Demba Ba’s move a surprise one? (Video)
At the time of writing this there has been no official announcement from Chelsea, Newcastle United or any of Demba Ba’s representatives but we are all aware the move is all but complete.
I am quite surprised to see Ba leave Newcastle this January, I have to admit. The ₤7 million buy-out clause in Ba’s Newcastle contract was a trap door under Alan Pardew’s feet all summer but it wasn’t until January that Chelsea chose to pull the lever. Newcastle could have kept hold of their star man but the new contract offered, without the release clause, didn’t meet the ₤90,000 a week Ba’s agent was asking for.
There is no doubting the striker’s form over the first 20 games this season, notching up 13 goals in a struggling side, has earned him the move to Stamford Bridge but it isn’t the big club I would have ever predicted Ba moving to.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Ba’s hometown club Paris Saint-Germain were all reportedly interested in signing the striker in the transfer window but whether that was just paper talk or agents trying to start a bidding war for their client, it is Chelsea that have landed themselves a goal-scorer.
The Senegalese international will certainly see some game time at Chelsea as Rafael Benitez looks to rest lone striker Fernando Torres as the Blues are still chasing titles on 4 fronts, but what will happen to Ba if, or more likely, when Benitez’s spell in charge at The Bridge comes to an end?
Ba will be seen as dispensable compared to Torres, after all ₤7 million is pennies in comparison to ₤50 million.
Sam Jewell
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