According to Mick Quinn, Newcastle’s long-winded pursuit of Salomon Rondon was ‘ridiculous’ – slamming the club for taking 10 weeks to complete a deal that ended up seeing the West Brom striker only arrive on loan.
The former NUFC striker praised Rondon upon his arrival and insists that the big Venezuelan is a ‘good addition’ for the club, however he is perplexed that the club took so long to get it done – especially when he didn’t even end up signing on a permanent deal.
Here’s what he’s had to say during his latest piece for The Chronicle:
“Even though I think Rondon is a good addition, that deal itself was ridiculous too. It took more than 10 weeks to complete – and in the end he was only brought in on a loan deal, and not even as a permanent signing.
He has a point. When Mitrovic was sold, a deal to activate Rondon’s £16.5m release clause seemed like a given – however we ended up only signing him on the basis that A) It would be a loan and B) We’d lose Gayle as a result.
Mick then went on to discuss the backing Benitez received in the transfer window, claiming Rafa is being forced to shop in ‘Aldi’ like some ‘second-hand car dealer’:
“Transfer window after transfer window Rafa is having to shop in Aldi, rather than at M&S. Or, given Ashley’s business dealings over the last week, it would be more appropriate to say at Primark rather than House of Fraser.
“Rafa is having to operate like a second-hand car dealer by trying to maximise what he has to work with.”
It’s hard to argue with this really.
It says a lot about our transfer business when two of our better signings won’t even be Newcastle United players this time next summer – with Kenedy and Rondon’s price tags only likely to go up if they impress at St James’ Park over the coming year.
Let’s hope this is Ashley saving his pennies ahead of a potential sale. A man refusing to invest could well mean a man who wants out?
The Rondon deal was a brilliant bit of business! He is out of contract at the end of the season so to pay his release clause would have been crazy! We now have him on loan and can sign him for free at the end! I totally agree with the club on this one Quinn needs to do his research really
AgentULA(Quote)
I think it’s you who needs the research, I believe he signed a 1 year extension so he will still have 1 year remaining after the loan.
Richard Patterson(Quote)
Not according to TransferMarkt he hasnt. His contract runs out one week after his loan finishes
AgentULA(Quote)