West Ham have been linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon, as doubt continues to linger over Newcastle United activating the Venezuelan’s release clause, according to the Northern Echo.
Rondon had spent the last year on loan in the North East, and impressed the Magpies fanbase enough for them to demand the club trigger his £16.5million release clause.
Manager Rafa Benitez is a particular fan of the striker, too, and has pushed the club to make his temporary move permanent, but has so far been unable to convince owner Mike Ashley to part ways with his money.
The pair are currently discussing the situation – among other potential candidates – in a crunch summit to discuss the Spaniard’s contract at Newcastle, as the former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss’ current deal is due to expire next month.
Ashley is also reluctant to pay as much as £16.5million for a 29-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract at the Hawthorns, will turn 30 in September and would have next to no resale value.
The Northern Echo, though, understand that we have shown a willingness to make a move for Rondon if the Magpies do not and pay the 72-cap international’s release clause.
If Director of Football Mario Husillos were to offer West Brom the money they are requesting, however, he would only be signing a short-time solution to arguably our biggest problem, even if it would be at a snip of the price of our other rumoured targets.
While Marko Arnautovic may now stay for another year or more, Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez both have their futures on the line still, and Andy Carroll should realistic be let go when his contract expires in June.
Keeping Arnautovic would realistically only mean we need one more proven striker in the summer, but would it not be better to go for a Maxi Gomez or Aleksandar Mitrovic than a Rondon, and sign someone who can be at the club for years?
During his year on loan with Newcastle, Rondon scored eleven Premier League goals in 32 appearances – the first time he has hit double figures in an English top-flight campaign.
