Newcastle boss explains how he’ll replace Chelsea-bound Demba Ba

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.