NUFC look to Ba contingency

It seems as though every transfer window we have one of the "will he, won't he" type scenarios, both in terms of incoming and outgoing players.

This particular window is shaping up to be no different with Demba Ba being the subject of the bulk of speculation this time round.

There is nothing to say that Ba will leave us and at least he seems happy with where he is right now if you read his tweets. Indeed Alan Pardew is hopeful that the Senegal international can be persuaded to stay on Tyneside and urged the fans to show their love for Demba in the final few weeks of the season insisting that knowing he is adored might be enough to tempt the 26-year-old into signing a new deal which would have the much publicised release clause removed.

But what happens if love isn't enough and Demba decides he wants away? The very presence of that clause, said to be £7m, means that suitors will be lining up for him, even with his allegedly dodgy knees. What happens then?

Well apparently we are already making contingency plans should the worst happen and Demba decide to leave. Step forward FC Twente hitman, Luuk de Jong, who is said to be interesting Newcastle and is being eyed as a replacement for Ba.

The 21-year-old Holland international bagged 25 goals last term and has a strike rate of just under a goal every two games throughout his career, which isn't too shabby at all when you consider he played for De Graafschap for one of those seasons, who ended up being relegated.

Interest in de Jong would be high though as he is being monitored by a number of clubs across Europe, but now we can offer European football perhaps we would stand more of a chance should we need to go looking for another striker?

Here is a compilation of de Jong in action. What do you think of him?