David Moyes admits he was previously interested in signing Demba Ba as Everton prepare to take on the in-form striker at Newcastle.
Everton boss monitored Ba at West Ham
Manager David Moyes admits he was previously interested in signing Demba Ba as Everton prepare to take on the in-form striker at Newcastle on Saturday.
Senegal frontman Ba has impressed for the Magpies since arriving on Tyneside from West Ham in the summer, having scored eight Premier League goals already this season.
The 26-year-old netted a hat-trick at Stoke last weekend, his second of the campaign, to seal a 3-1 victory and lift Newcastle into third place in the table.
Moyes had watched the Frenchman when he was at the Hammers last term and considered him as a potential signing, but the Toffees boss must now come up with a plan to stop the big striker at St James' Park.
Interest
"We were interested in Demba. I think he has done terrifically and done what a lot of people thought he could do at West Ham," said the manager.
"He scored the goals there and that brought him into everyone's eye-line and we did have an interest in him."
On Saturday's opponents he added: "Newcastle have had a great start and got themselves into position right away.
"They are probably now thinking about doing much better than just staying in the league, they are probably looking at one of the European spots.
"Alan (Pardew, Newcastle's manager) has done a good job; he has turned it round because he was not always everyone's choice but has done the job steady and he is winning football matches."
