As Newcastle remain unmoved by reports linking Papiss Cisse with a transfer to Anzhi Makhachkala, Senegal compatriot Demba Ba could be on his way back to Tyneside. Jose Mourinho’s imminent takeover at Chelsea has plunged the majority of the first team squad at Stamford Bridge on transfer red alert. Ba’s dream move to the European Champions quickly turned into a nightmare on his first return to Newcastle when his nose was broken by Fabricio Coloccini and his new side lost 3-2 at St. James’ Park. With The Special One expected to bring in at least one world class striker on a shortlist thought to include Cristiano Ronaldo and Edison Cavani in a swap deal with Napoli for Torres, Ba could find himself surplus to requirements at his new club already. With the recalled Romelu Lukaku seen as the future Didier Drogba, Mourinho will look to hone his talent one-on-one rather than let him go out again on loan.

Former Newcastle fans favourite Ba left St. James’ Park in January when his infamous release clause was finally triggered for £7.5M. Yet his regular goals were sorely missed by Newcastle whose striking options were severely limited when a deal for Loic Remy, Ba’s intended replacement, fell through. Since signing for West Ham on a free transfer in the summer of 2011, Ba banged in 29 goals in 54 games for The Magpies including memorable strikes against Manchester United, Everton and everyone else. He was the last man to score from a corner for the club and his 13 Premier League goals in 20 games last season meant he finished Newcastle’s top League scorer despite leaving in January although Cisse notched 13 in all competitions. As well as his goals, Newcastle fans have called repeatedly for a revival of the 4-3-3 attacking and entertaining formation fronted by Ba, Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa that wreaked havoc in the latter stages of 2011/2 as The Magpies qualified for Europe.

Ba’s high wage demands were one reason he couldn’t agree an extension on his Newcastle contract in January yet Mike Ashley and the Newcastle board may be prepared to revise their current pay structure now Premier League status has been assured and a share of the £3 billion TV money secured. Alan Pardew has made no secret of the fact he believes Newcastle need to alter their target player market to equip the squad with more experience especially of The Premier League and Demba Ba’s return is a no-brainer in that regard. Ba received a mixed reception on his return in the February 3-2 by fans at once recognising the heights his goals took Newcastle to while being less than impressed with perceived money-grabbing and his ill-advised comments on joining Chelsea about finally playing with world class players.

With a striker top of Alan Pardew’s shopping list, Ba is a Premier League striker of the highest calibre and would be welcomed with open arms by a club that was nearly relegated without him while the player himself would be guaranteed the first team football he is missing at Chelsea. Bring back Demba Ba and his strawberry sauce and Newcastle United will fly again.