Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was asked about the 26-year-old on Friday, and his reply sparked a frenzy of rumours.
As expected ... the Toon are doing well and the London press don't like it ... so someone is trying to put a spoke in the works.
Has Redknapp's foot found its way into his mouth?
Alan Pardew: "I thought, listening to the conversation, that the media tripped him up a little bit.
"You don't want to end up talking about other players in the transfer window and I am sure he probably regrets that a little bit.
"He's a Newcastle player, he has been brilliant for us and that's all I want to say, really."
Pardew knows from painful experience that all players have their price after losing Andy Carroll to Liverpool 12 months ago.
We also read today that Manchester City are after Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote.
Tiote was handed a new six-and-a-half year contract after impressing during his fist six months with the club last season, and it would be no surprise if the board attempted to tie up Ba's future - his current deal runs until the summer of 2014 - in another pre-emptive strike.