Newcastle United will now be offered the opportunity to sign Salomon Rondon for £16.5m this summer.
This comes after West Brom were beaten in last night’s play-off semi final, with Aston Villa’s penalty shoot-out win over the Baggies meaning that a release clause of £16.5m will be set heading into this summer’s transfer window.
This should prove to be good news in our pursuit of the Venezuelan, with it reported that West Brom would demand over £20m for the striker (£25m was touted by some!) should they have gained promotion back to the Premier League.
The one worry is the fact a £16.5m release clause was active last summer and Ashley refused to sign him permanently, with us opting to sign him on a season-long loan instead.
He’s now a year older, meaning Rafa will still have to convince Ashley to sign a player that doesn’t fit his tedious transfer policy, however the fact he’s just proven himself on Tyneside – scoring 12, assisting 7 and being named our player of the season – means he should be seen as a bargain at £16.5m; even if he does turn 30 later this year.
A swap deal or part-exchange that would see Dwight Gayle go the other way now doesn’t seem as likely, with it reported that he wants a shot at Premier League level next season, however we now have no excuses over a permanent deal for Rondon.
The one worry is the fact there can be no messing around now. We must move quickly given any club will be able to get him if the £16.5m release clause is met – and there’ll be no lack of interest at that price after the season he’s just had.
Sign him up!
I think we were wise not to spend £16.5m on Rondon last summer, and opt to loan him instead.
There were no guarantees that Rondon would produce the way he has. Rafa obviously had faith in the lads abilities, but the poor seasons he had at WBA could have really smashed his confidence. But the lad is made of tough stuff and he done better than I expected if I’m honest.
So now he’s proven himself and has a bond with the club and fans. Now it’s a risk free £16.5m – or WBA take Gayle as part of that fee – as he has also proven himself at the other end.
Sharpy17(Quote)