Newcastle boss discusses Arsenal, Spurs & Liverpool target’s imminent move to Chelsea

Thursday, January 3, 2013
7:25 AM

Transfer news: Alan Pardew praised striker Demba Ba for being “honourable” ahead of his imminent transfer to Chelsea and is pleased to have time to find a replacement in the remainder of the transfer window.

The 27-year-old Senegal international, who was a target for a host of Premier League clubs, was in London to discuss his move to Chelsea as the Magpies slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by Everton, their ninth in 11 Premier League games.

Pardew said: “There is a positive because if he had gone with two days to go of the window and we hadn’t got a replacement in, suddenly we are in real trouble.

“We have got time and hopefully that will work in our favour.

“Demba has been honourable. When he came, there weren’t too many people queuing up.

“I took the opportunity to take him and the clause that went in made a lot of sense at the time for us and for Demba, of course.

“If he hadn’t worked out, maybe as well as he has, then it would have been a great deal for us.

“But it worked out even better for him because he has scored loads of goals and the clause has kicked in and he’s moved on.

“We were all straight and fair with that and there has not been any problem.”