8 Players You Didn't Know Newcastle United Almost Signed

1. Ibrahim Ba

Once considered the hottest property in France, AC Milan star Ba was heavily linked with Newcastle during the early-noughties as Sir Bobby sought a winger to supply a regular stream of ammunition for a free-scoring Shearer during the 2000/01 campaign.

The Senegal-born French international had previously been close to joining the Toon for £5.2 million during Ruud Gullit's reign but reportedly failed a medical due to a long-standing knee injury, a claim he disputed saying: "Newcastle said nobody would insure a player in my condition and that the deal was off. How can I accept jibes about my fitness from Gullit, a man who was injured more times than anyone."

Calling our Gullit for his hypocrisy would have won Ba many friends on Tyneside, but when Robson came calling, however, Ba didn't fancy swapping the San Siro for St James' and it's a decision he now presumably regrets.

After leaving Milan in 2003, shacking up at four clubs in as many years including a season in the Premier League at Bolton Wanderers before eventually hanging up his boots in 2008 after going full circle and returning to the Italian giants.