Big question marks emerge over Dwight Gayle’s West Brom move – Is Rondon deal really done?

Some conflicting reports have emerged today on the rumoured ‘swap deal’ involving Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.

The Guardian’s Andrew Ryan claimed that the deal was all but done this morning (see story here), stating that Rondon was set to sign in the next ‘couple of days’ after we agreed a deal involving Dwight Gayle and £3m in exchange for the Venezuelan striker.

Dwight Gayle has agreed terms with West Brom. Rondon will sign for Newcastle, deal should be done in next couple of days. #NUFC will give #WBAFC Gayle plus £3 million for Rondon.

— Andrew Ryan (@scoobsfor) July 30, 2018

Since then, pictures have emerged of Gayle training with the NUFC squad ‘as normal’ in Portugal, with The Chronicle claiming that he has NOT agreed terms with West Brom just yet – suggesting Rondon’s move to Newcastle may not be done just yet.

Here’s a snippet from Lee Ryder’s latest piece on the striker, playing down The Guardian’s claims that it’s all agreed:

‘Dwight Gayle is yet to agree terms with West Bromwich Albion and has remained with Newcastle Unitedahead of their clash with SC Braga on Wednesday night.

‘The number 9 trained with United at Braga’s training ground this morning and seemed in good spirits as he worked with his team-mates.

‘There had been claims that Gayle was close to joining the Baggies but the former Crystal Palace man could even feature against Braga in Newcastle’s penultimate friendly game of the summer.’

So, people are questioning whether Gayle’s move to West Brom really is ‘agreed’ given he’s been pictured smiling and training with the Newcastle squad in Portugal today.

As a result, The Guardian’s Andrew Ryan has responded, reminding Newcastle fans that just because he’s training with the first-team does not mean a move isn’t near to completion:

Few people think because Dwight Gayle training in Portugal with Newcastle means deal with Rondon isn’t near for West Brom or #nufc. Reminder, Digne was training with Barcelona yesterday morning. As I called it, he’s now on a plane to Merseyside. Quick turn arounds. #wbafc

— Andrew Ryan (@scoobsfor) July 30, 2018

Who knows what’s going on, but it’s probably a good time to remember that Mitrovic flew out to Portugal but was on a flight back to the UK to seal a move to Fulham just 24 hours later.

The fact Gayle wasn’t risked from the bench against Porto on Saturday night perhaps says it all – especially when Rondon was also an unused substitute during the Baggies’ win over Coventry that night.

Both may still be with their respective clubs, but it still looks to me like a deal is on the cards.

Let’s hope this one gets sorted out as soon as possible. Time is running out and this whole saga is becoming a little tedious – even if Rondon would be a very handy upgrade on Gayle.