NUFC reporter reveals the player who's now 'unlikely' to be at the club next season

During The Chronicle's latest Q&A, Mark Douglas has stated that it's his 'understanding' that Salomon Rondon is 'unlikely' to sign permanently at NUFC once his loan deal ends - with Ashley blocking this over the summer on 'financial grounds'.

Rondon has struggled for fitness since arriving late in the summer window, however he was clearly one of Rafa's top targets over the summer.

We perhaps shouldn't be surprised to read that Ashley is reluctant to sign him permanently last summer, with the deal to sign him over the summer clearly delayed by our reluctance to pay his £16m release clause at West Brom.

Here's Douglas' take on the situation, suggesting that there will be no permanent move for the striker after his loan:

"Kenedy and Salomon Rondon’s short-term loans will be up - at this stage my understanding is that the West Brom striker looks unlikely to be a permanent deal (that was blocked in the summer on financial grounds)."

Fans have yet to see the best of Rondon and already there are fears he may endure a similar spell to Islam Slimani last season, who through injury never made an impact at St. James' Park.

It is however still frustrating that Ashley refuses to back Benitez over recruitment, either with cash or trusting the Spaniards judgement, regardless of player 'profile'.

He will be 30 though next summer and already plans are likely to be afoot to try and bring in a new striker this winter to salvage our disastrous season.

Time is running out for the former Malaga forward - he needs to get fit and start scoring goals - and quickly.