But he claims he wants to stay at Chelsea "and fight for my place", obviously snubbing the chance of regular football on Tyneside.
Now we hear Roma are set to join the race for the Senegalese forward.
With Samuel Eto’o set to be confirmed as a Chelsea player before the close of the transfer window Ba is surplus to requirements and is the most likely to leave Stamford Bridge for the season.
Ba was something of a panic buy for Chelsea in January as Fernando Torres was the only recognised forward at the club and Daniel Sturridge was frozen out, allegedly over demands to play at centre forward.
It is thought Jose Mourinho does not rate the player.