2. Replace Demba Ba
A high profile player who has already left Newcastle in this month's January transfer window is Demba Ba. Newcastle are now paying the price for allowing a
£7.5 million release clause to be in his contract as Ba continues his scoring streak at Chelsea. The Toon were close to replacing him with
Loïc Rémy this week but somehow allowed the promising Frenchman to be pinched from under their noses by relegation rivals QPR, with Newcastle's lower wage offer believed to be a factor. A new striker is now top of Pardew's shopping list and Ajax captain
Siem De Jong is rumoured to be a target. De Jong's agent has reinforced that his client is happy at Ajax but didn't rule out a deal and this could just be a negotiating tactic. Whether De Jong is the man or not Newcastle undoubtedly need reinforcements up front with Shola Ameobi ageing and Papiss Cissé struggling to repeat his sensational form of last season.