Turkish club Galatasaray were last night said to be weighing up a move for the Newcastle United striker.
Reports in Turkey suggested the big-spending club, who currently top their country's Super League, want the 27-year-old goalscorer whose days on Tyneside do appear to be numbered.
Ambitious president, Ünal Aysal, is prepared to spend serious money during next month’s transfer window, and Ba’s name is top of the list.
Aysal, whose personal fortune is believed to be around £500m, wants to make Turkey's biggest club a major player in European Football over the next few years and is willing to bankroll the ambitious project.
Galatasaray were one of several clubs who thought about moving for Ba during the summer, but were put off according to reports in Turkey by the Senegalese striker’s wage demands, even if his notorious £7.5m release clause was an attraction.
The Turks side are in the last 16 of the Champions League, but need to strengthen their squad if they are to take a major step forward.
Anfield has been the predicted destination for the striker if he did exit St James’ Park, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who desperately needs to do business in January, also monitoring the situation.
But Liverpool would have to guarantee that Andy Carroll was taken off the pay list ... something that would interest Newcastle.
But Carroll has played for TWO Premiership clubs already this season, ans that is the limit.