Newcastle United's Demba Ba. Photo: Steve Drew/EMPICS Sport
Thursday, January 3, 2013
3:51 PM
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will target power and pace as he looks for a replacement for Chelsea-bound Demba Ba.
The 51-year-old conceded defeat in his efforts to keep the Senegal international at St James’ Park last night after the Blues triggered the escape clause in his contract with a £7million bid, and is now looking to plug the sizeable gap the striker will leave behind.
Pardew, who last night admitted Ba and former strike-partner Papiss Cisse were not a natural combination, is hopeful of finding a man to complement the former Freiburg marksman.
He said: “I would like, if possible, to have a player with real power and pace. Sometimes, we lack a little bit of pace.
“(Gabriel) Obertan brings that to the team, but when Gabby is not in the team, that’s something I would like to see in the player that comes in because that will help Papiss, and also somebody who is going to threaten at set-plays because it has been a weakness for us.
“But it’s easy to say what I would really like - it’s what I can get in this window and the options are not numerous. There are only a few players, really, who are available.”
Ba’s move to Stamford Bridge is expected to be made official later today.
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