Newcastle United loan star Salomon Rondon is said to have no long term future at parent club West Bromwich Albion, according to Chronicle journalist Mark Douglas.
The Venezuelan has been a big hit at St James’ Park since joining on a season long loan from the Baggies last summer, and his time at the Hawthorns is thought to be at an end.
Douglas claimed in a Chronicle Q & A [13/02, 17:27] that Rafael Benitez wants to keep Rondon in Tyneside beyond his loan spell, and that the noises from West Brom are that he has no future there.
Newcastle are said to have attempted a second season long loan deal for Rondon in January but ultimately failed in that pursuit. However, he is said to seemingly be available again in the summer and is a target for Rafael Benitez.
OPINION
This is very encouraging news for Newcastle, even if it doesn’t mean that Rondon will necessarily end up at Newcastle on a permanent basis. Even if he has no future at West Brom the Magpies will still have to negotiate a permanent deal or another loan for him. It’s unlikely, seeing as it didn’t work in January, that the Baggies will accept another loan deal, but who knows? If they are only willing to accept a permanent deal then it becomes a bit more tricky. Newcastle are notoriously unwilling to splash out on players under Mike Ashley and, due to Rondon’s success at Newcastle, he will likely cost a decent amount to sign come the summer. Benitez will push for him, obviously, so this could become a bone of contention between manager and club. Having said that, who knows if Rafa will even be there come the summer? We’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out.