Chelsea’s misfit striker could be reunited with Upton Park pals
Published:He made his name in English football during a prolific three-month cameo at West Ham before being snapped up by Newcastle and then Chelsea, but now Demba Ba might be going full circle if the Hammers get their way.
According to one heavily subscribed British newspaper, West Ham are readying an £8m bid for the man who notched seven top-flight goals in east London in what turned out to be a short stay at Upton Park.
Unfortunately those Ba goals, after the striker signed from Hoffenheim in January 2011, failed to prevent the Irons from losing their Premier League status that season, ensuring the Magpies swooped to offer the Senegalese an extended stay in the top flight.
Sam Allardyce’s side have no such problem this season as he’s guided them to safety for a second consecutive campaign.
Meanwhile his team could yet have a huge say in the destination of the Premier League title, should West Ham cause the hugest of upsets and beat Manchester City at the Eithad on the final day, backable at 14/1.
The Hammers’ loss was certainly Newcastle’s gain as in the following two-and-a-half seasons the Geordies extrapolated 29 Premier League goals in 54 appearances from the frontman.
Newcastle’s trouble lay in the fact that Ba had negotiated a very modest £7m buy-out clause though, which Chelsea duly activated in January 2013.
However, since then Ba’s own fortunes have taken a steep nosedive as he quickly fell behind Fernando Torres in the pecking order, getting used a little sparingly by interim boss Rafa Benitez and the goals dried up.
Jose Mourinho’s arrival and subsequent move to bring in Samuel Eto’o as another Chelsea striker proved to be the catalyst for a very frustrating season where cameos from the bench have been the norm.
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