• Premier League

Pardew doesn't deny talk of £10m Ba release clause

Demba Ba's future at Newcastle is the subject of speculation © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ba release clause less than £7m - Redknapp
  

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has denied Demba Ba could leave the club this summer, although he did not dispute Harry Redknapp's suggestion that there is a release clause in the Senegal striker's contract.

Eyebrows were raised on Friday after Spurs boss Harry Redknapp expressed his admiration for the player, before revealing he has heard there is a release clause in Ba's contract - agreed when he moved to St James' Park for free in the summer - that allows him to leave for another club for a set price. Subsequent media reports suggested that clause is triggered by an offer of as little as £10 million.

Ba was not in the Magpies side that beat Blackburn in the FA Cup on Saturday - as both he and Cheik Tiote prepare to head to the African Cup of Nations - but Pardew refused to confirm or deny the reports swirling about a release clause, or discuss Ba's future.

"I thought, listening to the conversation, that the media tripped him up a little bit, Harry," Pardew said. "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."

Ba has emerged as a key player for Pardew's side this season, with his opening goal in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Manchester United his 15th of the season so far.

Redknapp has admitted his admiration of Ba, adding it will be "interesting to see what happens" this month.

"Demba Ba has done great hasn't he, everybody is looking at him suddenly," Redknapp noted on Friday. "Anybody could have had him a year ago. Full credit to Alan Pardew, he took him. He is probably the most in-form striker anywhere at the moment.

"They say there is a release clause in his contract, that is what we all hear. It will be interesting to see what happens there, but at the moment he is doing great things for Newcastle."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.