TRANSFER - SENEGAL - DEMBA BA - Besiktas in talks with Chelsea to sign Senegal striker
Chelsea striker Demba Ba has arrived in Turkey to complete a reported £8m move to Besiktas.
The 29-year-old indicated on social networking site Twitter that he had arrived in Istanbul, posting a picture of himself wearing a Besiktas shirt.
"All that is left is a few formalities, I will undergo a medical and sign the contract," he said on Wednesday.
Former Newcastle forward Ba has made only 23 starts in 51 appearances, scoring 14 goals, for the Blues.
He found himself third choice in the pecking order behind Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres.
And while Eto'o has since been released, Spain international Diego Costa has arrived for £32m and Ba appears to be surplus to requirements.
Turkish delight for Ba
Besiktas, who are managed by former West Ham and Everton defender Slaven Bilic, are 13-time Turkish champions.
Last season they finished third in Super Lig, behind Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
"Ba is a player we all believe in, we put in a lot of time and effort to complete the transfer," said Besiktas president Fikret Orman.
"The transfer is within our budget and we are delighted to have completed the move."
Ba joined the Blues from Premier League rivals Newcastle in January 2013 on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
It was thought his contract with the St James' Park club allowed him to speak to other clubs if they submitted a £7m bid.
He scored 29 goals in 57 appearances for the Magpies after joining on a free transfer from West Ham United in June 2011.
Senegal
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