Salomon Rondon has been named Newcastle United’s official Player of the Year for the 2018/19 season, and Newcastle fans are all saying the same thing – ‘SIGN HIM UP!’.
The Venezuelan becomes the first striker to win the award since Alan Shearer following the 2002/03 campaign, highlighting just what an outstanding season he’s had.
He’s scored 11 goals in 32 games, bagged 8 assists, been involved in a staggering 47% of our Premier League goals and lead the line brilliantly all season – yet he’s due to go back to West Brom on Monday.
It’s thoroughly deserved after what has been a superb all round season for the striker, however it also feels like a bittersweet moment, with all the responses to the club’s official announcement urging us to sign him up permanently.
A £16.5m release clause will be active IF West Brom fail to gain promotion, but should they win the play-off’s and secure a Premier League return, Rafa will be ruing the fact we didn’t sign him for the same fee this time last year.
It’s said that the Baggies will demand over £20m should they return to the top flight, so our chances of signing him may rest on their success in the play-offs.
Here’s the winners over the past decade, with the previous 10 winner ALL being defenders or goalkeepers:
2008/09 Sebastian Bassong
2009/10 José Enrique
2010/11 Fabricio Coloccini
2011/12 Tim Krul
2012/13 Davide Santon
2013/14 Mike Williamson
2014/15 Daryl Janmaat
2015/16 Rob Elliot
2016/17 Ciaran Clark
2017/18 Jamaal Lascelles
2018/19 Salomón Rondón
Thoroughly deserved – let’s just hope his goal against Liverpool last Saturday wasn’t the last one he’ll score at St James’ Park.