Love or money part 2 for Demba Ba
It's been known for some time that Newcastle United have been trying to thrash out a new contract with Demba Ba.
And from what we understand Ba's wage demands are currently preventing that deal from happening.
Ba has stated his love for Newcastle United on many occasions so far since arriving a free agent over a year ago.
But he has yet to come out and really commit himself and put all the rumours of being unsettled to bed.
One theory surrounding the Ba situation is that the striker was bandied around Europe during the summer but couldn't find a club.
Ba pretty much denied this on a warm evening in Chemnitz during pre-season when he told me that there was little truth linking him with the said clubs over the summer.
Back then I updated this very blog with this post
The pre-match and post-match comments of Ba's brother and then agent suggested that there was unrest between the player and the club before the 2-2 draw with Everton.
As it emerged in Funchal this week, Ba's contract is work in progress.
United's blueprint means that he is unlikely to end up being the club's highest earner and unless there is a deal resolved between now and January, talk of a new clause during January will dominate the next window for transfers.
Here we go again them...
But Pardew has said he has no problem with Ba and the pair enjoy a "good relationship".
And then come the complications.
His agent Alex Gontran has stated there are problems with the management and Ba.
But surely, Ba can't play in every game and surely not in the position he wants?
How many players in world football enjoy that type of luxury?
The comments of his agent are clearly a smokescreen in my opinion.
There are a lot of good agents out there but when it comes to the big deals, you can imagine them having pound signs in their eyes when they are talking to their players.
Don't forget if Ba gets a big move from United, it will be his representatives who will make a fortune.
Ba is a fantastic talent at St James' Park - but no player has ever been bigger than the club.
And nor has any football agent.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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