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NEWCASTLE United have drawn up a list of potential striker replacements – in the event that Demba Ba activates the release clause on his contract and quits the Magpies this summer.

With five games to go Newcastle still don’t know which – if any – European competition they will be playing in next term, but Alan Pardew and his Toon board are prepared for any even- tuality, with a range of different targets depending on whether they make it to the Champions League or Europa League.

And the Chronicle understands that Heerenveen hotshot Bas Dost’s goalscoring exploits have not gone unnoticed by Newcastle this season.

Toon chief scout Graham Carr has spent plenty of time in Holland this season and strapping striker Dost’s 25 goals have made him the top scorer in the Eredivisie and a standout figure.

Also in the frame are FC Twente striker Luuk De Jong – scorer of 21 goals this term – and long-standing target Crystal Palace forward Wilfred Zaha, who could quit Selhurst Park this summer.

Dost is keen on a switch to the Premier League and sources in Holland have indicated that the idea of playing for the Magpies in Europe would appeal.

Both Carr and Pardew have received many plaudits this season, with signings such as Yohan Cabaye, Papiss Cisse and, of course, Ba being toasted as success stories on Tyneside.

And United’s managing director Derek Llambias is thought to have every faith that the pair will come up trumps again to replace Ba if he goes.

United’s 16-goal top scorer has

stayed silent on his future, but there has been much talk at the club’s Benton base that Ba could be swayed if his boyhood heroes Paris St Germain are serious in their attempts to sign him.

Ba has family in Paris, and with Qatar Investment Authority currently pouring millions of Euros into the club, they would have no problem meeting the Toon star’s demands – or what is believed to be a £7m release clause.

Pardew is well aware of Ba’s unsettled status and recently appealed to the Geordie public in order to get him to stay.

The player’s degenerative knee problem is not thought to have put PSG off signing Ba.

However, the pursuit of 22-year-old Dost would not be straightforward.

Aston Villa are keen on the 6ft 5in powerhouse, although Champions League or Europa League football is on the player’s personal wish-list.

Yet there could be another twist to the situation with Netherlands legend Marco van Basten due to take the reins at Heerenveen next season and making it clear to his board he wants Dost to remain at Newcastle’s one-time UEFA Cup opponents.

The influential figure of Van Basten has already told his chairman Rob Veenstra to request Villa to back off and has tried to deter a £7m offer.