It's an obvious one but it just had to be mentioned. Despite leaving Tyneside in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee, the Senegalese frontman has only played 65 minutes for Jose Mourinho, falling behind Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku in the Stamford Bridge pecking order. Ba's perilous situation at the Europa League winners has been noted across Europe, with Arsenal hoping to stump up £1.5 million to take the striker away on a season-long loan and Napoli and Valencia also reportedly interested. Yet if this transfer window has taught us anything, it's that taking a signing from under Arsenal's nose isn't a tricky prospect. With the Gunners unwilling to meet Chelsea's valuation of £3 million for the loan, the Magpies could potentially swoop in and steal their one-time striker. From a footballing perspective, it would make perfect sense adding a fifth first-team striker to their stable could provide Alan Pardew with the depth he so desperately needs to bring the good times back to St. James' Park. Also, the elephant in the room may not be such a bad thing Ba's past history at the Magpies shows he can perform in the Premier League, and to Pardew's specifications.