Pardew confident of Ba sale

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is confident striker Demba Ba's proposed move to Chelsea will go through, allowing the Magpies to "move on".

The Blues have been given permission to talk to the 27-year-old Senegal international after meeting the £7million release clause stipulated in the deal he signed with Newcastle during the summer of 2011. Ba was withdrawn from the Newcastle squad for the Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at St James' Park as a result.

And speaking before kick-off, Pardew was confident a deal was just a matter of time. "It's done. He will go to Chelsea with our blessing," Pardew told Sky Sports 1. "He has done fantastic for us and it's not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on. This club is bigger than any player for sure."

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