Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew chasing free agent Demba Ba

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Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has expressed an interest in bringing former West Ham striker Demba Ba to St James’ Park.

Newcastle have been in the market for a forward since Andy Carroll’s £35 million January deadline day departure to Liverpool and Ba, who scored seven goals in 10 Premier League starts for the Hammers, could fit the bill.

Pardew told reporters: “Demba Ba has done very well since he came to England and he’s a good player.

“I’m very much aware of him and I probably know what he is capable of more than most because I’ve known about him for a while, before he went to West Ham.

“We’re not the only club who are interested, but we are trying. There is always competition and we will keep plugging away.”

Everton have also been strongly linked with Ba, who reportedly turned down a bumper new deal at relegated West Ham in order to find a Premier League club.

The Guardian quote an Upton Park executive as saying: “He was offered £50,000 a-week wages and a half a million pound signing on fee. But he decided to walk away. We think he may now sign for Everton.”

Ba joined West Ham in January after a failed medical scuppered a potential move to Stoke City and is the first high-profile name to leave West Ham following their relegation to the Championship.

Toon boss Pardew has also expressed an interest in PSG striker Mevlut Erding.