OPINION
Newcastle United have been told that they must meet the £16.5 million release clause to secure the services of West Brom striker Salomon Rondon, which boss Rafa Benitez is prepared to pay, according to the Sun.
However, Premier League new boys Wolves must hijack any move for the the 28-year-old forward, who has the potential to shine at the newly-promoted club.
The West Brom attacker – who represents Venuzuela internationally – has recently been relegated to the Championship with his club, and is undoubtedly seeking a move back to the Premier League, rather than play in the second tier.
Rondon, who stands at 6’1″ (source: Transfermarkt), only bagged ten goals for the Baggies last season, which was obviously not enough to help them avoid the drop.
Despite this, a move to a club like Wolves could help him unlock his true attacking potential, which could prove pivotal to the Midlands-based outfit next season if they can get him firing regularly.
Playing at the Hawthorns may not have given Rondon the chance to play the way he wants to, or he may not have fitted into their style of play that eventually saw them relegated.
Wolves most certainly have the funds to acquire the signature of the Venuzuelan due to the monetary backing of owners Fosun International, so they are more than capable of hijacking Newcastle’s attempt to pay the player’s release clause.
They would also be able to offer Rondon an increased financial incentive compared to their new rivals United, and this may be the integral factor in luring the centre-forward to the Molineux.
Rondon has also attracted the interest of fellow newbies Cardiff City, but he is more likely to move to a club that can offer him more money like Wolves.
With Wolves lacking the required attacking threat to compete amongst the big boys in the Premier League, the capture of the West Brom man may just solve that problem – but they must act quickly, or lose out on him.