Chelsea striker Demba Ba has moved to rubbish reports linking him with a January move to Arsenal ahead of the Blues’ crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening.
The Senegal international, 28, joined Chelsea from Newcastle United for an undisclosed transfer fee in January and has since failed to live up to the incredibly high expectations at Stamford Bridge.
Ba was previously linked with a loan move to Arsenal in the summer transfer window but nothing materialised after Belgian star Romelu Lukaku was sent to Everton.
“People talk a lot about me joining Arsenal,” Ba said in The Sun (via Sky Sports). “But there has never been an approach from them.
“There is nothing going on in this regard. Things are OK for me at the moment.
“It’s working, as the situation is turning around for me here bit by bit. I am getting more time on the pitch as a result of the injuries to our strikers Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres.
“You just need a bit of time to adapt when you change clubs. I’ve been in a process of adaptation while moving between West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea.
“But as soon as I’m given the chance to prove myself, I take it so the fact that I’ve often been on the substitute’s bench is nothing serious.”
Ba — 9/4 to score at anytime against the Gunners — has bagged three goals and one assist in 14 appearances in all competitions, albeit just three starts, for Chelsea this season.
Moyes plays down striker talk
Manchester United boss David Moyes has played down speculation suggesting the club are looking for strike reinforcements when the transfer window re-opens in January, according to Sky Sports.
Recent reports have linked United with January moves for Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa and unsettled Monaco talisman Radamel Falcao but the United manager has revealed he is not looking to add another front-man.
“I would not say we are in desperate need of an out-and-out centre-forward,” said Moyes. “We have got Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Chicharito (Hernandez), Danny Welbeck. Shinji can play in behind as well, we are covered.
“It is easy for people to throw names up, but when they look at it more closely you might say it wasn’t that good a suggestion.”
United, currently in 8th-place in the English Premier League table, will enter Thursday’s clash against Hull City at the KC Stadium with a three-match winning streak.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
