Newcastle Transfers: 5 Reasons Pardew MUST Keep Demba Ba
4. Status
It is widely believed that Newcastle supporters mistakenly perceive the club to be more of a force than it is and indeed many rival supporters would suggest Newcastle is not the big club the fans would claim it to be. Refraining from forcing upon you my own biased opinions or a statistical bombardment of data, I would expect most professionals within the game and the various media outlets acknowledge how big a club Newcastle actually is and indeed the particular status it holds within English football.
Admittedly, gone are the days of marquee signings for extravagant fees such as club legend Alan Shearer or Toon Villain Michael Owen. Unfortunately, the financial restrictions imposed by the current economic climate means all clubs are spending more prudently than they once were. Newcastles recent bargain signings of Tiote, Cabaye, Santon or Ben Arfa would indicate the club are doing particularly well in this market, in no small part down to the efforts of Chief Scout Graham Carr.
It would be offensive however to suggest that the club is heading down the route of becoming a selling club. There is no doubt that should significant bids be lodged for the players mentioned above they would be considered by the Newcastle Board but the club are in a very strong financial position and would in no way allow themselves to undersell their best players to rival clubs. That said, the position surrounding Demba Bas contract and the widely reported clause is a special affair and may be a matter beyond the clubs control.
Were top-scorer Ba to leave the club in January for a perceived bigger club however, the signal of status and intent sent out would not be well received by Alan Pardew, the remaining players, or the fans.