Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez today refused to discuss speculation that has linked his club with a move for Newcastle United frontman Demba Ba ... simply because he has not been involved in the deal!
A report this weekend had claimed that Ba was due to travel to London over the coming days for talks with the Blues over a transfer.
However, when asked about the possibility of the Senegalese striker signing on at Stamford Bridge, Benitez insisted that he did not wish to discuss his transfer plans.
Rafael Benitez: "No, because we don't talk about this business, we had a very important game today."
Benitez was speaking after Chelsea had collected a 2-1 victory from their trip to Everton.
And it is reported in London today ... Benitez was not even asked if he wanted Ba!
Chelsea Won't Pay Ba Agent £4m!
Chelsea's hopes of signing Newcastle striker Demba Ba have suffered an early blow after unproductive discussions over payment to representatives!
Club officials met the 27-year-old's representatives on Sunday night, but that the deal on the table did not come close to meeting what his AGENT expects from the deal.
All along it seems as though Ba has been "encouraged" to move on because backroom boys can make a "nice little earner" out of the deal.
Ba's football future doesn't even seem to come into it ... it's "others" trying to get a cut.
The Ba "camp" has indicated that the Senegal international does not now expect to be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next month.
Allegedly Chelsea were willing to pay him (his asking price) £85,000 per week ... so the "problem" is elsewhere ... and probably nothing to do with Ba.
The Blues are among a series of clubs to have been linked with the former West Ham frontman, who scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season at Arsenal on Saturday, with the £7million release-clause in his contract due to become active once again on Tuesday.
However as yet, the Magpies insist they are yet to receive a bid that would trigger that clause.
The deal Ba signed when he joined Newcastle during the summer of 2011 was intensely complicated as a result of the medical condition of his knee, and they have spent recent months attempting to renegotiate it.
However, the two sides have been unable to reach agreement and with the player's network of representatives clearly active behind the scenes, the waters are becoming increasingly muddied by the day.
What is clear is that any deal would cost significantly more than £7.5million when signing on and agent fees are taken into consideration.
SUNDAY'S NEWS ....
Sky Sports sources understand Demba Ba's representatives will meet with Chelsea on Sunday evening.
Ba, who has 13 goals already this season, has a £7.5million release clause in his contract which becomes active in January when the transfer window opens.
A host of clubs have been linked with a possible swoop for Ba, including Arsenal, Tottenham, QPR and French giants Paris Saint Germain.
But now Chelsea are reported to have moved into pole position after Sky Sports sources revealed talks were due to take place between Ba's representatives and the European champions.
The Sunday People claimed today that Ba may be forced to stay at Newcastle after demands from his advisers for extra payments pushed his fee above £12million.
Sunday People Sport: Ba’s advisers want between £3m and £5m to conduct a transfer – ballooning the fee to a whopping £12.5m.
Potential buyers also face the nightmare task of trying to satisfy Ba’s wage demands. He is believed to want a whopping £85,000 a week, having turned down Newcastle’s improved offer of £70,000.
All in all it adds up to a massive gamble on a player who may not even pass a medical because of a long-standing knee problem.
The demands of Ba’s advisers have annoyed players and officials at St James’ Park.
A Toon source said: “There are people in the dressing room who believe Demba Ba has let Mike Ashley and Newcastle down after the way they helped resurrect his career. They’ve been kicked in the teeth.”
If Ba does leave Newcastle are likely to miss out on Marseille striker Loic Remy, who favours a move to AC Milan.
FA Muppets Don't Have The Balls To Fine Sir Alex
Former Toon striker Mick Quinn says Sir Alex Ferguson should be fined for his "insulting and derogatory" remarks towards Alan Pardew and Newcastle United.
Mick Quinn: “The FA should take some action as he is trying to run the whole game.
“He often oversteps the boundaries, and while I don’t know what he said to the officials, his gestures seemed to be aggressive enough.
“For a start attacking a young linesman in that manner hardly offers people thinking about taking up refereeing any encouragement if they are going to get verbally bullied week in, week out.
“He was aggressive, it’s as simple as that. I’m not surprised that the FA didn’t take any action because it is one set of rules for Fergie and one set of rules for everybody else.
“How can he have a go about some help he has given him in the past? It has nothing to do with the comments of Alan, who was simply talking about Mike Dean’s lack of action on the day.
“He wasn’t talking about Fergie himself. He is out of order because he is bringing private and personal help into the situation.
“He is saying they are a wee club but they won exactly the same amount of trophies as Newcastle did last season. At the end of the day the authorities are afraid of Sir Alex.
“He is a great manager but how can you expect the FA to do anything about disrespectful comments when (Man U chief executive) David Gill has such a big role with the FA?
“Every manager appears to be punished for breaking rules – apart from Ferguson.”
Pardew Hits Out At Ba Courting Speculation!
Alan Pardew says Demba Ba doesn't help the transfer speculation by saying he wants to play for Arsenal and PSG.
Alan Pardew: "Really and truly this window is the key, I think, because if Demba goes in this window, it will cause us a problem.
"I think he will stay, but there's a possibility he could go because of the clause that's still in force.
"In the summer, I won't let it run until the summer. I'll do something about it.
"We will either move Demba on or we will secure him in the summer.
"Some of the speculation that runs around him - yesterday he was asked about his home-town club, PSG, would he like to play for them one day, and he said yes, of course.
"That's now a headline that he's going to play for them next week. The media kind of fuel it and I understand that, that's part of their business.
"But for our part, he has always put out for us, he has scored more goals than anyone else for us, he is playing well and that's what I have to focus on.
"We have obviously got a scenario where we have got to protect ourselves."
BA WANTS TO PLAY FOR FRENCH SIDE
Demba Ba remained coy when quizzed on reports linking him with a January transfer to Arsenal. But the fact the North London side is the 'Little France' of the Premiership would help.
The Senegal forward’s future has been a source of constant speculation in recent months due to a £7.5m release clause in his Magpies contract.
The 27-year-old has also been linked with a move to Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain but is understood to be a target for Gunners boss Arsène Wenger, who is keen to bolster his attacking options at the Emirates.
However, the striker was giving nothing away about his future when asked about a potential St James’ Park exit next month.
Demba Ba:“Arsenal is a club that has not won the title for a long time, but it is true that this is a club that attracts every footballer.
“But as I said and repeated, these are the people who talk in the newspapers because for the moment, between me and Arsenal, there is not much.
“That means I’m in my club at the moment and the day I have to leave, I will analyse the situation. If it’s better for me to stay, I will stay. And if it’s better for me to go, I will.
“After that, it is better to go somewhere where there are a lot of French, because it fits much more easily. But for now, it is not in the program.”
Sunday 30th December 2012
Everton V Chelsea
QPR V Liverpool
Tuesday 1st January 2013
West Brom V Fulham
Man City V Stoke
Swansea V Aston Villa
Tottenham V Reading
West Ham V Norwich
Wigan V Man Utd
Southampton V Arsenal
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Chelsea V QPR
Liverpool V Sunderland
Newcastle V Everton
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
Wednesday January 2 2013 20:00 v Everton (H)
Saturday January 5 2013 12:30 v Brighton (A)
Saturday January 12 2013 15:00 v Norwich City (A)
January 19 2013 15:00 Reading (H)
Tuesday January 29 2013 19:45 v Aston Villa (A)
Saturday February 2 2013 15:00 v Chelsea (H)
Saturday February 9 2013 12:45 v Tottenham (A)
Thursday February 14 2013 v Metalist (H)
Thursday February 21 2013 v Metalist (A)
Saturday February 23 2013 15:00 v Southampton (H)
PREMIERSHIP
ARSENAL 7 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ba 2, Marveaux)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Coloccini, Perch, Santon, Obertan, Bigirimana (82' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Marveaux (88' Tavernier), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Sammy Ameobi, Mehdi Abeid, Streete.
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (Perch, Evans og, Ba)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Perch, Bigirimana (65' Obertan), Cisse (79' Sammy Ameobi), Ba (71' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier,Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita, Tiote (77' Marveaux), Perch, Gutierrez (60' Obertan), Ba, Cisse (61' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Tiote (74' Marveaux), Anita, Gutierrez, Cisse (79' Shola Ameobi), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Gutierrez, Tiote (86' Bigirimana), Anita (86' Marveaux), Ben Arfa (70' Shola Ameobi), Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 3 WIGAN 0 (Ba 2 - 1 pen, Bigirimana)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (49' Ferguson), Marveaux, Tiote (46' Bigirimana) Anita, Gutierrez (75' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Shola Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier
STOKE 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita (87' Sammy Ameobi), Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (87' Ranger).
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Ferguson, Tavernier
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor (90+1' Perch), Williamson, Santon, Anita (66' Marveaux), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (46' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
EUROPA LEAGUE
BORDEAUX 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Williamson (74' Coloccini), Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Bigirimana, Ranger, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi (46' Anita) Shola Ameobi (80' Cisse)
Subs: Krul, Simpson, Romain Amalfitano, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Ameobi, Obertan.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.