The Demba Ba £7 million ($11 million) release clause situation has been much talked about with Arsenal reportedly leading the chase for the Newcastle frontman, and Alan Pardew admitted there is nothing he can do when it comes to the future of his striker.
Ba recently admitted in an interview to French channel Canal+, that playing for a club like Arsenal "makes me dream," and speculation over his future was bound to continue.
Those comments led to suggestions the 27-year-old could indeed be on his way out of St James' Park.
Pardew spoke to Ba about the interview, and while the manager claims the Senegalese international's words were misinterpreted, there is no doubt about the fact that interest from clubs like Arsenal are real, and the possibility of him leaving when the window reopens in January even more so.
"It's unfortunate that the contract he has leaves open a lot of questions because we have this clause and every window that comes around, I have to answer the same questions," Pardew told reporters.
"It would be disappointing for him to leave in this window for this club and for his team-mates here, but the decision will be his, ultimately, because that clause is there.
"The most important things we have got with Demba is he is someone who is a goalscorer and he is scoring goals, and that's very, very important to a side.
"His commitment to and work-rate for the team, I don't fault."
Pardew revealed Ba will not be disciplined for the comments, and had no problems with the words used in the interview.
"It was quoted in England not correctly, and that's unfair on Demba and unfair on us," he said
"There will be no disciplinary procedure against him. There was one procedural matter where he could have informed us and should have, really, but that's neither here nor there.
"The most important thing for me is that the content of that conversation was about trying to turn the situation around, like all of us.
"We are professional people, we want to win. That's what we are paid for and I have got no problem with anything he said in that interview."
Mindful of the fact that the club could be without their top scorer Ba, who has scored 11 goals already this season, come January, Newcastle have already made some contingency plans with Marseille forward Loic Remy right on top of the list. "That's a situation we are looking at," Pardew admitted when asked about Remy.
Tottenham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers are also reportedly interested in the French international.
