1:23 Former Newcastle striker Demba Ba says he would 'love' for the club's proposed takeover to be completed Former Newcastle striker Demba Ba says he would 'love' for the club's proposed takeover to be completed

Former Newcastle striker Demba Ba thinks the club will compete for Premier League titles and return to the Champions League if the proposed takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium is completed.

PCP Capital Partners' proposed takeover of the club is nearing completion after the consortium paid a £17m deposit and exchanged contracts with current owner Mike Ashley.

Ba told Sky Sports News he believes the financial elements of the deal would be great for both his former club and the Premier League as a whole.

"If that goes through, I will be very happy because Newcastle is a club I love a lot," said Ba, who scored 29 goals in 58 appearances during his time on Tyneside.

Demba Ba was a major success in his 18-month spell at Newcastle

"I have spent a very great time there and if this goes through it's going to be another top team.

"I'm not going to say top club because Newcastle is already a top club, but it's going to be another top team, fighting for the title, fighting for the Champions League, and it's going to be only great for the Premier League and for Newcastle also."

Newcastle last reached the Champions League proper in 2002-03 - the same season in which they recorded their highest Premier League finish of this century, coming third.

Despite Newcastle having twice been relegated to the Championship since then, Senegalese forward Ba remains confident good times will return, although he has warned that the experiences of some of Europe's wealthiest clubs show that trophies are not guaranteed.

"They will challenge," Ba said.

"It does not mean they will win because we have seen for example a team like [Manchester] City, who have been challenging for a decade now for the Champions League.

"It's not an easy competition and just money does not give you any guarantee. If money would give you guarantee then for sure City would have had a couple of (titles), and other clubs also would have had more - Paris (Saint-Germain) would also have one."