Ba commited to Magpies

Newcastle striker Demba Ba insisted Friday he is keen to remain at Tyneside with just four days to go before the release-clause in his contract expires.Speculation has been rife that the 27-year-old Senegal international could be used to help broker a deal to bring Liverpool's Andy Carroll back to the north-east.But Ba insisted he wants to play for the Premier League side next season."I don't care what is being said. I think it's part of the game," Ba told the Journal from Newcastle's training base in Portugal."However, I have never said anything other than I love being at Newcastle."If they hear something from me about my future, that is the truth. Otherwise, everything that is said is not true."The newspapers and I are not very friendly at the moment. For months and months and months, people have been talking about me, but there is nothing happening."Of course, I am looking forward to next season with Newcastle. We just have to build on the progress we made last season. For me, I just can't wait to start the first game."Ba arrived at St James' Park on a free transfer from West Ham last summer and scored 15 goals before heading on African Nations Cup duty.He got just one more on his return after being asked to assume a different role following the January signing of compatriot Papiss Cisse, who scored 13 goals to help the Magpies' surge into the top five.

Source: AFP