Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed that Demba Ba could leave the club for £7m in January.
The Senegal striker came off the bench to score a brace against Everton on Monday, but afterwards stated his disappointment at being a substitute.
This has led to widespread speculation about the 27-year-old's future with the Magpies, and Pardew has revealed that Ba still has a £7m buy-out clause in his contract.
"There is that clause in his contract and it makes us vulnerable," said Pardew. "It's still open in the next window.
"I have spoken to Demba [about his agent] and told him I was disappointed with some of the comments around him. Sometimes it's out of his control and out of my control.
"But we know each other well enough, and I've got no problems with him, because he is a team player who wants to do his best for the team. He has always been like that."
Ba has been left out of the Newcastle squad to face Maritimo in the Europa League on Thursday.