Newcastle United's Demba Ba £7 Million Transfer Clause Expires July 31st

The well documented Demba Ba £7 million transfer release clause can be officially activated from today, though only for two months.

The Mirror reports that the clause Ba agreed with Newcastle United last year was only for a two month window during the summer months and after the July 31st deadline, Newcastle would be able to reject £7 million offers for their top-scorer last season.

Newcastle insisted that the release clause window would only last for two months so if they were to lose Ba, they would give themselves at least a month to buy in a new replacement before the transfer window shut.

The Magpies are expecting offers from almost all the major clubs in Europe for their 27-year-old Senegalese forward who struck 16 times last season with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur the most keen. Newcastle won't be able to stand in the way of Ba being able to talk to any club who offers £7 million and the decision will be up to Ba as to whether he wants to stay at Newcastle and fight for Europe for another season or make a big move elsewhere, particularly when Champions League winners Chelsea would likely offer a significant increase in wages and Champions League football next term.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew had been desperate for the two-month window opportunity not to leak out to help boost the chances of them not receiving any offers for Ba over the next 60 days but that was always going to be impossible, especially if Ba himself decided to make overtures to other clubs.

Chelsea believe Ba could be an instant replacement for Didier Drogba who has just left the club on a free whilst Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been a long time admirer of Ba and was actually the first person to announce the release clause at a Tottenham Hotspur press conference! It is believed Spurs are unwilling to match Emmanuel Adebayor's £10 million valuation at Manchester City and would never be able to match his astronomical wages.

Attention Newcastle United fans €“ Lifelong fans Matt Holmes and Peter Willis, the co-owners and founders of What Culture will be launching a dedicated Newcastle United blog at www.toonarmy.co.uk from Friday June 1st. The blog will contain opinions, features, match previews, reports all in their unique and passionate voice for the like-minded die-hard Geordie. Bookmark it today.