Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has insisted that striker Demba Ba does not want to leave the club.
Talks are ongoing with the 27-year-old to have his release clause of £7.5m removed from his contract.
"He loves it here, he understands it is a football city," the Daily Mail quotes Pardew as saying.
"We have tried to do a deal to take the clause out and we have not managed to do it yet so it is hanging over us and it makes it difficult for me, for Demba and the club in the next window.
"He is inspirational and has been brilliant for us. He has never looked me in the eye and said he wants to do anything other than stay. I hope he does."
Ba joined Newcastle in June 2011.
