Newcastle United and West Brom are finalising their loan swap deal for Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle today, according to journalist Paul Suart.
Birmingham Live’s senior sports writer delivered the update on his personal Twitter account, stating that the finishing touches should be put to the deal on Monday.
Looks very much like the Rondon / Gayle loan swap deal will go through today. A deficit in wages, and who would pay what, complicated negotiations. Gayle is in the Midlands sorting the finer details of his move / medical. About done at the Newcastle end. #wba
— Paul Suart (@PaulSuartWBA) August 6, 2018
Suart claims that a deficit in wages and a dispute over who would pay what has complicated negotiations, but that the move is almost done on Newcastle’s side, while Gayle is in the Midlands today for a medical.
The swap has been mooted for some time, with Rafael Benitez eager to get attacking reinforcements through the door at St James’s Park, with the Baggies understandably keen to get something out of the deal as well.
Good move for Newcastle & West Brom?
This appears to be a transfer saga with a happy ending. All the parties seemed to know what they wanted to get out of this deal from the start, so it’s a wonder it’s taken so long to get done. Newcastle will be getting a striker with a proven track record, who showed last season that he could score goals even in a struggling team. West Brom, on the other hand, will be gaining a forward with an exemplary track record at Championship level. Both teams will see themselves as being strengthened by this deal, which is a rare thing in modern football. This one seems like a win-win.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
If Suart is to be believed, this one is as good as done. Unless Gayle fails his medical or is unable to finalise terms, you should see the Venezuelan in a Magpies shirt and the Englishman representing the Baggies by days end.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10