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West Ham United striker Demba Ba has signed a contract to join Newcastle United after rejecting a move to Everton.

The 26-year-old, who was the Hammers’ top scorer with seven goals, only moved to Upton Park last January from Hoffenheim.

The Senegalese international’s six-month deal expired this month allowing him to move to St James’ Park on a free.

West Ham offered him a £55,000-a-week contract and a £500,000 signing on fee to stay at the relegated club but chose to stay in the Premier League.

It is thought he has signed a similar deal with the Magpies but it is unclear how long the contract will last.

It is Newcastle manager Alan Pardew’s second signing of the transfer window after securing the signature of Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

It comes 24 hours after selling captain Kevin Nolan to West Ham but other stars Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez are also rumoured to be about to leave.

Ba will replace former number nine Andy Carroll, who left the club in January  to move to Liverpool for a £35million transfer fee.

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Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan has completed his move to West Ham after signing a five-year contract.

The 28-year-old, who played under Hammers manager Sam Allardyce at Bolton, has joined the Championship side for an undisclosed fee.

“Having the chance to link up with Sam again is a massive thing,” said Nolan on the West Ham website.

“West Ham have shown a certain hunger and desire to make sure that I became their player.”

Talks had broken down between Nolan and Newcastle over the length of a new contract.

“I am aware that the club made Kevin a good offer to stay, but could not agree over the contract,” Magpies manager Alan Pardew told the Shields Gazette.

Nolan, who is expected to take the captain’s armband at Upton Park, pledged to pay back the faith West Ham had shown in him by giving him a long deal.

“The be all and end all was that this club wanted me and the owners put faith in me and have given me a security of contract,” added Nolan.

“I’m very sad to leave Newcastle but I’m coming to another massive club in my eyes, and hopefully I can be as successful as I was there [at Newcastle].

SOURCE: BBC Sport

Whilst clearly Nolan and Sam Allardyce have a rich history from their time together at the Reebok Stadium one does have to wonder just exactly what the hell is going on at St James’ Park when the club’s skipper elects to drop out of the Premier League in order to leave the club.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley may have some explaining to do and Alan Pardew will have to hope that others do not follow the former captain out of the club. Kevin Nolan was a tremendously popular player among the club’s supporters and in the dressing room and he will leave a massive hole in the team.

Good news for West Ham though who will be overjoyed at having secured such a quality player.

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Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has blasted his club for allowing captain Kevin Nolan to leave and has suggested other stars will soon follow.

Nolan has been undergoing a medical and finalising terms of his move to West Ham United after rejecting anew contract offer with the Toon Army.

The 28-year-old played a key part in helping Newcastle climb out of the Championship in 2009 and consolidate in the Premier League last term – scoring 12 goals.

The move will see Nolan reunited with his former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce as they attempt to get the Hammers back into the Premier League.

Barton recently rejected a new deal from Newcastle and has said he would see out the last 12 months of his current deal.

But with Everton and Stoke City circling, he has hinted he may be leaving this summer along with Jonas Gutierrez and Jose Enrique.

“Feel sick,” he wrote on Twitter. “Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life. Devastated to see him SOLD! #mejoseandjonasnext.”

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Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan is undergoing a medical at West Ham United after rejecting a contract offer to stay in the North-East.

The Hammers had an initial £3million offer rejected last week for the 28-year-old but have had an improved bid accepted by the Toon Army.

The Magpies have given Nolan permission to speak to West Ham and he is on the verge or re-uniting with manager Sam Allardyce, after working together at Bolton Wanderers.

Newcastle revealed earlier this month Nolan had rejected the offer of a new deal at St James’ Park and they are now ready to let him leave as he only has one-year left on his contract.

Nolan enjoyed a fine season at Newcastle last term, scoring 12 goals in the Premier League, but it appears he could be swapping Tyneside for East London.

Allardyce is also attempting to sign Nolan’s team-mate Alan Smith, whom he originally signed while in charge of Newcastle.

A £2million bid was rejected but the Magpies have confirmed the 30-year-old can leave with only 12 months left on his deal.

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Fulham manager Martin Jol has identified his first two signings of the summer: Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane and Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan.

Jol is targeting more firepower and sees the duo as the answers to his prayers, according to The Sun.

The Dutchman has been given a £15million budget to improve the squad by owner Mohamed Al-Fayed and he may have to part with a sizeable chunk if he is to get his players.

Newcastle recently rejected a £3million bid for Nolan from West Ham United as they are holding for double that amount for their top scorer with 12 goals.

The 28-year-old turned down a new contract offer with the club and Jol hopes he can lure the former Bolton player to London with the chance of top flight football.

Jol worked with Keane when they were at Spurs and believes the Irishman will dovetail brilliantly with Bobby Zamora.

Keane has been frozen out of Tottenham’s plans and was sent on-loan to West Ham at the end of last season.

It is believed a bid of around £4million could be enough to persuade Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to sell the 30-year-old, but Keane may have to take a pay cut.

Meanwhile John Pantsil has been allowed to leave Craven Cottage, with Leicester City keen on him, but Jol has not given up hope of persuading Zoltan Gera to stay.

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West Ham United have had a £5million bid for Newcastle United duo Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith.

The Hammers new manager Sam Allardyce has wasted no time in seeking recruits to spearhead his push to get his club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

‘Big Sam’ has worked with both players before and knows exactly what qualities they bring to the table, most notably talent and commitment.

The Toon Army captain Nolan, recently turned down a new contract offer to stay at St James’ Park as the length of contract on offer was not what he had in mind.

A £3million offer from West Ham is some way short of the Magpies’ £6million valuation of the player according to the Daily Mail.

Allardyce made Nolan his captain while the pair were at Bolton Wanderers together, and the 28-year-old, who scored 12 league goals last season, would be interested in working together again.

Smith was bought by Allardyce in 2007 from Manchester United but has lasted a lot longer in the North-East than his former manager.

A £2million bid for the midfielder was not enough to convince the Newcastle board to sell, even though they will allow him to leave this summer as he only has one-year left on his current deal.

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Newcastle United Premier League Fixtures 2011/12

Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan has rejected the latest contract offer from the club while Alan Smith has been allowed to leave.

Nolan, who has two years left on his current deal, was offered a two-year extension by manager Alan Pardew but the 28-year-old wants a new five-year contract.

The 28-year-old has been a key figure in the Toon Army re-establishing themselves in the Premier League after earning promotion from the Championship.

The Englishman has scored 12 goals from midfield in 30 games this season, including a hat-trick against fierce rivals Sunderland.

The news is particularly alarming for Pardew following Joey Barton’s refusal to commit to a new deal.

The Toon boss is currently overhauling his squad and has offered a new deal to Danny Simpson but has allowed Smith to leave the club according to Sky Sports.

The 30-year-old made 14 appearances after losing his pace in the side to Cheik Tiote.

He is expected to be a target for new West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce who took him to St James’ Park in 2007.

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Newcastle’s hierarchy have eventually seen sense and decided to begin the process in offloading ineffectual, bad-boy striker Nile Ranger and the ever-increasing waist-line of captain Kevin Nolan.

Despite captain Nolan’s contribution this term it sees as if it hasn’t quite been enough to warrant a new contract at St James’ Park.

Although Nolan has pitched in 12 goals last season, to some fans it hasn’t been enough to impress the toon supporters who have scrutinized his work rate on the pitch.

The same goes for Ranger who has a goal tally at Newcastle that rivals Alan Smiths Prolific scoring record in a Black and White shirt.

One assist and one goal is all that Ranger has managed to conjure up this season and once again has failed to impress his manager and the fans.

The fans at St James’ are indeed passionate ones who are not afraid of telling it how it is when there players aren’t performing to the standard they expect.

To many however, the news that Pardew is willing to cut ties with his current captain would be a decision that could conjure up some sweaty brows in the dressing room, although those who have performed superbly this season can rest easy as i feel Pardew has his priorities right when it comes to freeing his squad of the dead wood pulling his team down.

Fans can only hope that Pardew has players in place to take over the roles played by the two first team members that the club are willing to part with.

So far he’s demonstrated that he has his head firmly screwed on when picking players to form his 25 man squad.

Key men like Cheik Tiote, Steven Taylor and Jose Enrique all have a monumental part to play in the side in the new season and should be assured of their place.

Adding to a squad that has the potential to create some problems for the bigger sides in the league is Pardew’s main aim this season, and is pleasing fans with his choice of top targets to do so.

To build on their 12th place finish will be nothing but a success for Geordie fans, so hopefully four or five first team players can nudge them up towards the dizzy heights of 10th position, a sight for sore eyes that toon fans haven’t experienced since 2006.

So with Newcastle seemingly in safe hands, all they can do is sit back and hope Pardew keeps his promise with the players and money he will bring into his toon squad.

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The new home shirt is manufactured by Puma. The shirt features white sleeves and two white vertical stripes running down the centre of the shirt. The Puma logo is located on the top right of the shirt in gold. The club badge is located on the left. Northern Rock once again takes pride of place as the sponsor in the middle of the shirt.

Newcastle are virtually guaranteed another season in the Premier League after an up and down season which saw fan favourite Chris Hughton sacked as manager and replaced by Alan Pardew much to the disbelief of the Toon Army as well as the big money departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool. Since then Newcastle have proved inconsistent but have had enough about them to stay in the Premiership.

The new shirt modelled by Kevin Nolan is probably going to divide opinion amongst Newcastle and Football Fans. I personally cannot decide whether I love or hate this shirt. Newcastle are also releasing a limited edition Home Shirt for club members which features a gold club crest.

Do you like the shirt? Which team will have the best Kits next season? Voice your opinion here! Buy the kit at the official club shop by CLICKING HERE.

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NEWCASTLE skipper Kevin Nolan could be a shock summer target for West Ham United.

The Toon midfielder has been watched by the Hammers and will be in their sights if they can escape relegation.

Scouser Nolan – club top scorer this season with 12 goals – has two years left on his contract and is in talks with the Magpies over a new deal.

SOURCE: Daily Star

Really can’t see this happening. Why would Newcastle United skipper Kevin Nolan, who has been in fine form for the Magpies ever since he arrived at the club two and a bit years ago, leave St James’ Park for West Ham? It is fairly likely that the Hammers will be in the Championship next term but even if they do escape the drop it would still make little or no sense for the former Bolton man to leave for the East London strugglers.

Of course Nolan will hope that owner Mike Ashley puts his hands in his pockets to bring in some much needed additions to Alan Pardew’s side and he will also hope that the likes of Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton all stick with the Toon Army this summer, but even if the England hopeful did have plans to leave Newcastle United, and I severely doubt he would, why would he join the club that is currently bottom of the table?

Avram Grant has his work cut out over the next month or so, the Israeli has four games to keep his side up or face the sack if he fails to avoid the drop. West Ham have suffered in recent weeks after a decent run of form looked like it would see the Hammers avoid the drop, that slump coincided with the loss of mercurial skipper Scott Parker and any hope of beating relegation to the Championship will depend very much on whether the England international can recover from injury to help his side find their feet.

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