Newcastle United Transfer News: Demba Be Edges Closer To Turkish Move

The Sunday Express has confirmed what we wrote last week that Newcastle United striker has opened talks with Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbache after both clubs matched the Senegalese international's transfer release clause. The clause, believed to be between £7 million to £9 million (of which Ba pockets £2 million himself from the move) is only available to be activated up until July 31st and so far only the two Turkish sides are believed to have activated it. We believe that talks between Ba and the two Turkish clubs took place around 10 days ago and Ba has been mulling over the contract offers but his wage demands may have already put off Galatasaray. The club's President Unal Aysal said on June 16th;

€œBa€™s name was suggested to us by a committee member and we opened negotiations after approval from manager Fatih Terim.€ €œHowever, negotiations have stopped. We already have Johan Elmander and have two other strikers.€ €œThe future of Milan Baros is uncertain and if he leaves, we will replace him with a bigger name. Demba Ba is not that striker.€

As it was reported on Thursday, Magpies boss Alan Pardrew is to hold an emergency meeting with Ba tomorrow, Newcastle's last chance to convince the player to stay on Tyneside. It is believed that Newcastle are unwilling to give Ba a pay rise of more than £50,000 a week on his contract and although they want the goal machine, who struck 16 times last campaign, to stay in the North East, they aren't willing to match captain Fabricio Coloccini's contract of close to £80,000 a week. Most in the North East believe that Pardew had the opportunity to give one of his stars a big contract this summer and he decided Colocinni was more valuable and he offered him the big contract. Meanwhile, Newcastle have already made plans for Ba's replacement, making offers for FC Twente youngster Luuk de Jong. Previously; Newcastle United: 6 Reasons Why Demba Ba Will Leave