Demba Ba remains a Newcastle United player after the deadline passed last night to activate an escape clause in his contract.

It is understood the clause would have been triggered at £7.5million, and that any club still interested in securing the former Hoffenheim frontman's services would have to come up with double that to prise him away from the Magpies before the closure of the summer transfer window at the end of this month.

Toon boss Alan Pardew will hope the midnight deadline brought an end to all that and he can now press ahead with his preparations for the new season.