Exclusive claims Salomon Rondon will join NUFC 'next week' as West Brom agree 'cut-price' deal
According to an exclusive from TEAMtalk, Newcastle will tie up a deal to sign Salomon Rondon over the 'next week' - with West Brom set to agree to an initial loan deal which will include an option to sign him for £15m next summer.
They state that we will pay the Baggies a £4m loan fee to secure him for the coming season and a further £15m next summer - meaning a total of £19m would be shelled out on the Venezuelan striker.
It remains to be seen whether this is true, with the Chronicle or Sky Sports yet to comment on this apparent breakthrough on the deal, however it was reported over the weekend that Rondon was now Rafa's 'top target' after we 'missed out' on a £22m deal for Alassane Plea.
Here's what TEAMtalk have had to say on the deal, claiming that he looks set to seal a move to St James' Park over the 'next week':
Newcastle are expected to tie up a deal for their top summer target Salomon Rondon in the next week – and TEAMtalk sources can reveal an impressive cut-price raid could be agreed.
The Venezuelan striker has been identified by Rafa Benitez as the man he wants to lead his strikeforce next season, with Aleksander Mitrovic expected to make a permanent move to Fulham.
Rondon, 28, has a release clause of £16.5million in his contract but TEAMtalk can reveal Newcastle want the deal as an initial loan – and have offered £4million now and then a further £15million next summer to make the deal permanent.
West Brom would rather sell now, and although Rondon’s wages have almost halved from £75,000-a-week to £40,000, they are desperate to shed his salary and look likely to agree to Newcastle’s request.
It's best to take this with a pinch of salt until it's confirmed by a slightly more reputable source closer to the club, however there's no smoke without fire and Rondon is certainly someone Rafa seems to be considering.
One thing I question is why we'd pay £4m now and £15m next season, making the deal cost £19m when we could have him for £16.5m this summer. It saves us money in the short term, seeing us spend £4m this summer opposed to £16.5m (plus agent fees), but I'm not sure how it's a 'cut-price' deal in the long run.
If true, it makes you wonder just how much (or how little) money Rafa has really been given to spend this summer if we can't afford to spend £16.5m..
He's not prolific - having averaged 8 goals a season across his three years in the Premier League so far - although he is a real handful, a hard worker and a player who possesses decent pace/power which may suit our counter attacking style surprisingly well.
I'm not sold on him given our need for a proven goalscorer (which he is not), but I think that he could be better than some are expecting if this one proves to be true.
Would you be happy with Rondon?
