12 Newcastle Successes (And 12 Failures) Scouted By Graham Carr

4. Demba Ba

Signed: 2011 (from West Ham United) Transfer Fee: Free Position: Striker Newcastle United Appearances: 58 (2011-13) Newcastle United Goals: 29 Current Club: Besiktas

Signed on a free transfer before returning 29 goals in 58 games - Demba Ba is the ultimate bargain of Carr's tenure as Newcastle's chief scout. West Ham United had been the first English club to take a gamble on the Senegalese forward when they signed him from Hoffenheim in January 2011, but Newcastle still took a risk on Ba - despite his excellent scoring record - due to the fact he has a supposed "dodgy" knee due to previous injuries. Carr was convinced that, because Newcastle could sign Ba on a free, it was a gamble worth taking due to his finishing ability - and so it proved. Ba may have left for Chelsea in January 2013 but Newcastle still recouped £7 million - due to a buyout clause in his contract - and overall this was a real success for Carr. Signing Rating: 9.5