Everton Consider Loan Deal for Demba Ba
Demba Ba may well score a great deal of goals in a blue shirt next season, but exactly which shade of blue has yet to be decided. Reports by Simon Jones in the Daily Mail today have suggested that Roberto Martinez’s Everton side have expressed an interest in Ba, and would like to take the Senegalese international on loan if they are unable to retain the services of another Chelsea forward, Romelu Lukaku for the upcoming season.
Demba Ba, who turned 29 in May, spent most of last season as the third-choice striker for Chelsea, behind Samuel Et0’0 and Fernando Torres, and looks to be in another uphill battle for a starting place this season after the West London club’s purchase of Atletico striker Diego Costa for a reported £32m.
Chelsea fans undoubtedly would be happy to see Ba join a club that is not a direct rival for the Premier League title, although the reports suggested that Everton may have a difficult time meeting the striker’s £80k a week salary.
Everton may have a difficult time meeting the striker’s £80k a week salary
The Senegalese has maintained a respectable amount of professionalism at the club, despite his lack of consistent game time. Hardworking and friendly, Ba has made the most of his limited opportunities up front for the Blues, and has not let long periods of inactivity prevent him from scoring.
Despite only netting seven times, Demba Ba has scored some important goals for the club, notably the goal against PSG that put Chelsea through to the last four in the Champions league in early April. Everton and Chelsea fans alike will also fondly recall Ba’s winning goal in Chelsea’s april 27th fixture at Anfield last season, as the forward capitalized on a Steven Gerrard slip and slotted home, putting a magnificent dent in Liverpool’s title hopes.
Wherever he ends up in the upcoming season, we wish Demba Ba all the best. Though he has not always seemed to be “the perfect fit” at Chelsea, he has undeniable talent, and it would be nice to see him have the opportunity to be a first-choice striker. Everton was a good fit for Romelu Lukaku last term, and if this loan deal goes through, hopefully Ba can pick up where Lukaku left off and continue to advance Chelsea interests by taking points off of the other teams in the league.