SENEGALESE striker Demba Ba could be the key bargaining tool in Newcastle United's attempts to take England's Andy Carroll back to Tyneside .

Liverpool's new boss Brendan Rodgers is attempting to transform the face of the squad he has inherited and as well as offloading Carroll he is keen to give his attack a fresh look.

After landing Fabio Borini from Roma, Rodgers is hoping to bring in Theo Walcott from Arsenal. Sources close to the Anfield club suggest Joe Cole, following the end of his Lille loan, will also have a chance to revive his Merseyside career.

And with Luis Suarez lined up to spearhead Liverpool's attack, Rodgers is ready to offload target-man Carroll at the right price and the aim is to replace him with a more versatile forward.

Ba is one of those under consideration. He was even before it became clear that Newcastle had made an official offer to take Carroll on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal at the end of next season.

The 27-year-old, who started and scored the winner in Monday night's friendly with Monaco in Germany, has been the subject of speculation all summer because of a £7m clause in his contract.

That clause is, reportedly, due to expire at the end of the month and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has stated that he would prefer to keep the former West Ham man next season.

However, it has emerged that Ba will be mentioned by Liverpool in any further discussions which take place about the possible departure of Carroll.

Ba's preference is to play as the figurehead in attack and as well as providing that option he also offers the versatility which Rodgers is seeking from the forwards he has in his squad.

Liverpool are asking £20m for Carroll, but their interest in Ba would help to lower that fee significantly - down to somewhere close to what Newcastle would like to pay for the man they sold for £35m 18 months ago.

Pardew has been looking to bring in a new striker this summer after sanctioning the departures of Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands .

Newcastle had been in discussions with Twente for their Dutch talent Luuk de Jong, but admitted defeat when the Eredivisie outfit demanded more cash.

And yesterday Borussia Monchengladbach - whose interest and preferred destination of the player was reported in The Northern Echo last month - completed the signing of de Jong. He signed a five-year deal, with the Germans paying £10m-plus a further £2m in add-ons.

After pulling out of the race to sign de Jong, Pardew turned his attention to Carroll. And he said: "That whole process is a little bit more involved with the chairman and the board at Liverpool.

"We have got a great team here, a great squad, and if Andy Carroll comes it will only add to us. It's simple, really.

"Sometimes transfers are done at corporate level. I'm slightly detached from that. It will be what it will be.

"It's been said that he's available and if we are involved, then we will be involved because of the figures, not anything else, because we know he's good enough."

Newcastle's transfer activity does not stop there. They are also closing in on a deal for full-back Mathieu Debuchy.

The France international, also wanted by Inter Milan, has informed Lille he wants to join Newcastle in a £7m deal to team up with Yohan Cabaye.

Debuchy said: "Despite my commitment to Lille - the club is in my heart - I am 100 per cent committed to leaving. I want to leave LOSC. The coach wants to keep me but I will not change my opinion."

And Lille boss Rudi Garcia said: "He has expressed his wish to leave. I understand that. Now we are searching for a possible replacement."

Newcastle have been hoping to sell Danny Simpson, who has 12 months left on his contract, before completing the signature of Debuchy.

But one of the clubs interested in landing Simpson are also looking around. They are known to have been in touch with Nottingham Forest over the possible purchase of Chris Gunter.