After claims from the Daily Mail that Newcastle are now in talks over a £9m deal to sign Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto, they also report that ‘progress’ has now been made over a ‘loan swap deal’ involving Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.
With us clearly reluctant to pay the 28-year old’s £16.5m release clause, it seems we are now pursuing a deal which would see Dwight Gayle loaned to West Brom for the season, with the powerful Venezuelan coming the other way.
It’s not ideal, but this may be a viable way of bringing in two strikers of Benitez’s choice – and may explain why Gayle wasn’t included in last night’s trip to Hull.
Here’s what The Mail have had to say on the Rondon deal:
‘Rafa Benitez has been pushing for reinforcements and believes progress is also being made on a potential loan swap deal involving West Brom’s Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.
‘Albion are extending Rondon’s contract by a year to protect their asset and a permanent option will be discussed at the end of the season.’
The last line is an interesting one and would make a lot of sense for them. Rondon’s current deal is set to expire next summer so a loan move would make no sense for them if he was to be a free agent at the end of it.
So, if Fulham agree to pay our alleged £18m asking price, it sounds like we *might* see Mitrovic and Gayle leave, with Muto and Rondon arrive – with the former linked with a permanent move and the latter being discussed on loan with an option to sign.
Would you be happy with this?
Does not make much sense too me ,why not just a straight permanent swap ? Otherwise in a years time Rondon is in the same situation ,a year too go on his deal .Would we then pay the money with him being a year older than now? I think not .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
I know there’s a lot of debate about whether we should even sell Mitrovic but I’m firmly in the camp of we should. His lack of pace just doesn’t work in Rafa’s line-up. Add in him getting the red mist and card a few times a season and I think his sale if fully justified. I haven’t seen much of Muto but I know that both he and Rondon have plenty of pace, strength and hard work about them. I also think Rondon can potentially be a fair bit more prolific in a side not managed by either Pulis or Pardew. The lad is great in the air so hopefully we can bang some crosses in next year and get him well into double figures. Of course this is all assuming these deals are gotten over that magical line. Add in Schar and perhaps Bryan for defensive cover and we wouldn’t be doing too badly. Benitez would incredibly be well into the black in terms of net spend once again. I can only live in delusional hope that we could use all that saved money to get a blue chip number ten, central mid, winger and perhaps right back.
Kevin(Quote)
I think it’s just a case of we get a striker that suits Benitez’s system in Rondon and they get a striker who can help them get promoted in Gayle. Who knows what happens next summer but this is a deal that works for both managers for at least the coming season?
It’s clear Rafa wants Rondon but we never felt likely to pay his £16.5m release clause..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Newcastle doing it on the cheap again! Can’t see the Baggies letting him go on loan unless there is a cast iron guaranteed sale at the end of it and probably for more than the current £16.5 million buy out clause. Rondon has shown no inclination to move and on £70,000 a week who can blame him. Newcastle should be after better.
Interesting article on BBC website listing each PL clubs record signing and nearly all are within the last 2 years except Newcastle where you have to go back to Michael Owen. Just about sums it up!
Mike Castle(Quote)