Ba set for Chelsea talks as Newcastle striker edges closer to St James' Park exit



Demba Ba will meet with Chelsea chiefs this evening to discuss a potential January move to Stamford Bridge.



The Newcastle striker leads Chelsea's winter target list even though his transfer fee could be pushed beyond the £10million-mark by extra payments.



Ba’s £7.5m release clause has been well documented with both Arsenal and Liverpool known to be monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation, but now the Sunday People are reporting that the Senegalese’s advisers will demand between £3m and £5m on top of that as part of any deal.

Prolific: Ba (centre) has netted 13 Premier League goals this season

And he will now meet with Blues officials to try and thrash out a deal 24 hours before the transfer window opens, according to Sky Sports News.

Chelsea's No 1 striking target Radamel Falcao last week revealed that he wants to stay at Atletico Madrid until the end of the season, forcing the Blues to cast their net elsewhere as they look to bolster their title bid.

With Daniel Sturridge set to complete a £12m move to Liverpool this week Chelsea need a frontman to compete with Fernando Torres and they have now switched their attention to Ba, who is the joint-leading scorer in the Premier League this season with 13 goals despite featuring in a struggling Magpies side.



Ba joined Newcastle from West Ham back in the summer of 2011 in a deal which included a £7.5m release clause - £2.5m of which will go to the player himself.

Double salvo: Ba scored twice at the Emirates on Saturday

Ba is likely to demand £70,000-a-week in wages from his suitors, with mega-rich French side Paris Saint-Germain also weighing up a package to bring him back to the country of his birth.



Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is keen for Ba to negotiate a new deal but should he opt to leave the club they are expected to step up their chase for £11.5m-rated Marseille striker Loic Remy.

