Sky Blues teen set for Magpies move

Newcastle are closing in on the signing of Coventry City starlet Gael Bigirimana, while Demba Ba has dismissed reports he is leaving.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew has been looking to sign 18-year-old midfielder, Bigirimana, since May after the player impressed for the cash-strapped Sky Blues in the Championship last season despite their relegation to League One. Despite several rival clubs expressing an interest in the youngster, who made 28 appearances and was handed the Championship's Apprentice of the Year award for 2012, Pardew has moved quickly to try and seal a deal by agreeing a fee with Coventry. It is being reported that Bigirimana is on Tyneside for a medical and will make the move to the Magpies in the near future. Meanwhile, Senegal striker, Ba, has spoken out to rubbish reports that he could be on his way out of the club this summer with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Turkish giants Galatasaray linked with a move for him. Ba, who joined from West Ham on a free transfer last summer and scored 16 goals to help Newcastle to a fifth-placed finish last term, told his official Twitter account: "So much stuff about me lately. Rumours are rumours! Just forget about it." Newcastle are also still being heavily linked with FC Twente's Douglas, Lille's Mathieu Debuchy and are also reportedly making progress in their pursuit of Australian defender Curtis Good.