Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has given striker Demba Ba his blessing following confirmation the Senegalese striker is on the verge of sealing a move to Chelsea.
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The 27-year-old missed the Magpies 2-1 loss to Everton on Wednesday night as he finalised his switch to west London after the Blues had triggered his £7m release clause.
Pardew, who watched his side throw away an early lead at St James' Park, feels he will have no trouble replacing the talented frontman, given the transfer window has only just opened.
Speaking before the Everton game, the Toon boss told Sky Sports 1: "It's done. He will go to Chelsea with our blessing. He has done fantastic for us and it's not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on.
"This club is bigger than any player for sure."
Ba's strike partner Papiss Cisse had opened the scoring against the Toffees after just two minutes but Leighton Baines and substitute Victor Anichebe both netted to hand all three points to David Moyes' high-flying side.
The result leaves Newcastle just two points clear of the relegation zone but a positive Pardew said after the game: "There is a positive because if he (Ba) had gone with two days to go of the window and we hadn't got a replacement in, suddenly we are in real trouble.
"We have got time and hopefully that will work in our favour.
"Demba has been honourable. When he came, there weren't too many people queuing up. I took the opportunity to take him and the clause that went in made a lot of sense at the time for us and for Demba, of course.
"If he hadn't worked out, maybe as well as he has, then it would have been a great deal for us. But it worked out even better for him because he has scored loads of goals and the clause has kicked in and he's moved on.
"We were all straight and fair with that and there has not been any problem."
Pardew is, meanwhile, hoping to secure a deal for France full-back Mathieu Debuchy as his side struggles to cope with a glut of injuries.
He added: "Fingers crossed that he passes the medical, that's probably the key to that because I hear the discussions have gone well on the finance side.
"He's a player that we really needed tonight - he might have made a difference tonight."
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