Newcastle United Transfer News: Demba Ba Doesn't Want To Leave

transfer release clause expires this summer, Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has issued his strongest statement yet that he hopes to remain on Tyneside. The 27-year-old Senegalese international striker has been subject to feverish speculation linking him with a move away from the North East after it emerged that a clause existed in his contract that meant if any club made a bid of around £7.5 million, that the offer would have to be immediately accepted by the Magpies and Ba could discuss personal terms over a move away from St. James' Park. There was also talk that Ba himself would net a cool £2 million from any sale that was triggered by the release clause. It is believed by us that two Turkish clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbache, both activated Ba's release clause but his excessive wage demands, thought to be over £50,000 a week, cooled their interest in taking him acorss Europe. Lately there has been talk that Ba could be used as a make-way in a player & cash deal involving Liverpool's Andy Carroll, and the fact United have officially tabled one bid for their former number 9 perhaps suggest that they would prefer to team Carroll & Cisse up front next season. Newcastle also pursued the signing of FC Twente's Luuk de Jong before he made the switch to Borussia Mochengladbach and also in the past few days Marseille striker Loic Remy. However Ba, who has done nothing but deny claims that he wants to leave, has once again reiterated his desire to stay by telling The Journal out at Newcastle's training base in Portugal;

"I don't care what is being said. I think it's part of the game. "However, I have never said anything other than I love being at Newcastle. "However, I have never said anything other than I love being at Newcastle. "If they hear something from me about my future, that is the truth. Otherwise, everything that is said is not true. "The newspapers and I are not very friendly at the moment. For months and months and months, people have been talking about me, but there is nothing happening. "Of course, I am looking forward to next season with Newcastle. We just have to build on the progress we made last season. For me, I just can't wait to start the first game."