Transfer Centre

Demba Ba rubbishes Newcastle United exit talk

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 14 July 2012

Newcastle United forward Demba Ba dismisses rumours of a move away from Tyneside by saying that he still enjoys pulling on the black and white shirt.

Newcastle United frontman Demba Ba has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from St. James' Park by saying that he still enjoys putting on the black and white shirt.

The Senegal international, 27, has been consistently linked with a move away from Tyneside due to a well-publicised release clause, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United

Ba told the Evening Chronicle: "The fans see me on the pitch in a Newcastle shirt - that's my message to them. In the papers there's been a lot of rubbish.

"Like I said on Twitter, it's just rumours. People talk, but what I can say is that none of the teams that have been talked about have approached me. I'm still a Newcastle United player.

"Life is brilliant - I always have a smile on my face. That's how I am. Football is my job, but it's also a lot of fun for me. If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it. I enjoy putting on a black and white shirt."

Ba started last season's Premier League campaign in blistering form but was ousted in goalscoring terms by fellow Senegalese forward Papiss Cisse, who arrived in January and scored the bulk of the Magpies' goals in the second half of the season.