West Brom technical director Luke Dowling has claimed that Newcastle United are STILL interested in a deal to sign Salomon Rondon this summer – despite Rafa Benitez’s departure.
In all honesty, this makes little sense to me – even if I’d love to see him return this summer.
Rafa Benitez had been trying to convince the board to sign the 29-year-old but he is now gone – so why would Mike Ashley and co. be still be interested in a deal to sign a player who doesn’t fit in our tedious transfer blue print?
Here’s what Dowling’s had to say about the Venezuelan during a press conference unveiling new boss Slaven Bilic today, with him confirming that he WILL leave this summer:
“There is interest in Salomon and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t,”
“He’s had a good season with Newcastle – a year as a centre-forward and we all know what that means to Newcastle supporters.
“His season was the right way around, rather than starting great and fading, he finished the season really strongly.
“So if we do want to sell him that’s great for us but we’re anticipating as the weeks go on that the offers made for him might get bigger.
“But Salomon has a market worldwide so it’s not just clubs in this country that are interested. We’re quite happy to say that we will sell Salomon.
“We don’t want a player that’s had a season like that staying around with us and walking away on a Bosman.
“Salomon has had the taste of Newcastle. He went back to a Premier League club and if he plays in England that’s where he wants to be.
“We have to respect that as well. As we understand it Newcastle still have an interest in Salomon.”
It would be a pleasant surprise to hear we’re still trying to sign our 2018/19 player of the season, but I just can’t see it.
The Chronicle have claimed that Newcastle signing Rondon will now be ‘highly unlikely’ now Rafa Benitez is gone. The only way I can see us being interested is if West Brom were happy to do a swap-deal involving Dwight Gayle?
Elsewhere, it’s been reported this morning that West Brom have REJECTED West Ham’s bid for Salomon Rondon, which was said to be £10m PLUS Jordan Hugill and Sam Byram.
I’d love to see the big man back at St James’ Park this summer, but it would be a real kick in the teeth for Rafa if they decided to sanction some form of deal for a striker they seemed so reluctant to sign during talks with Benitez.
