DOUBTS remain about the future of Demba Ba but his compatriot Papiss Cisse has outlined a wish to help Newcastle United secure a Champions League place next season.

The clause in Ba's contract which could see him move on for £7m this summer has led to the Magpies having to draw up a list of candidates to replace him.

Among those under consideration are Twente's in-demand hot-shot Luuk de Jong, while over the last few days an international team-mate of both Ba and Cisse has become the latest to be linked.

Newcastle have watched Dame N'Doye. The £6m-rated 27-year-old is available at a much cheaper price than the likes of de Jong and scored 24 goals in 40 matches for Copenhagen last season.

N'Doye is not believed to be a priority, but offers an alternative and a fall-back if Ba does depart and de Jong heads somewhere else like Tottenham.

The chances of Ba is growing but Cisse, who moved from Freiburg for £9m in January, is relishing the prospect of spearheading Newcastle's attack next season.

The 27-year-old scored 13 goals in 14 outings for Newcastle and his stock has never been higher following his instant impact in the Premier League.

But Cisse is not thinking about leaving after enjoying his first six months on Tyneside, which ended with his goals helping to secure a return to the Europa League.

He said: “I am very happy in Newcastle and I want to stay here for many years.

“We were close to a Champions League position so next season hopefully we will qualify for that and everyone will taste the Champions League.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been keen to play down talk of a push towards the top four again next season. He is concerned that the extra games the Europa League could bring will make it harder to maintain form domestically.

Pardew has drawn up a list of transfer targets and Newcastle are ready to make firm moves when they know how much money they have available to spend.

It could still be that one of Newcastle's most valued assets will be sold on this summer – with significant interest known to be around in midfielder Cheik Tiote.

Manchester United's interest is long-standing, but there has been no formal offer for the player. Interestingly, though, West Brom's Youssuf Mulumbu suggested over the weekend that he has been targeted by Newcastle.

Mulumbu, 25, is a holding midfielder who has been a key component of West Bromwich Albion's ability to stay in the Premier League, but his advisors are looking at ways of him stepping up from The Hawthorns.

The interest in Mulumbu has done nothing to deter one Newcastle midfielder from claiming he wants to stay at St James' Park.

Dan Gosling has struggled to make an impact on Tyneside since his move from Everton two summers ago and had been expected to leave this summer.

But Gosling, a former England Under-21 international, said: “I still love it here. It's a great club to be at. This club will always attract players but hopefully my opportunity will come.”