Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang have agreed a deal with West Brom for striker Salomon Rondon, according to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas.
Now they need to agree terms with the player and Thomas claims the deal could be done within the next 48 hours.
Exclusive: Deal agreed between #DalianYifang and #WestBrom for Salomon Rondon to rejoin Rafa Benitez. Player now in talks with Chinese clubs and could agree terms in next 48 hours. #NUFC #WBA https://t.co/OzHTtF6aQx
— Lyall Thomas (@SkySportsLyall) July 15, 2019
Rondon spent the last season on loan at Newcastle under new Dalian Yifang manager Rafa Benitez. The former Newcastle manager had wanted Rondon on a permanent deal at St James’ Park but a deal for the 29-year-old went against Mike Ashley’s policy of only signing players 25 and under.
Likely to happen?
Rondon has a release clause of £16.5million and that means agreement between the two clubs would have been easier. We don’t know if Dalian Yifang have triggered the clause but West Brom are obviously happy with the fee agreed.
It seems that personal terms won’t be an issue either, with Rafa Benitez proving the lure. He was “desperate” to sign Rondon at Newcastle and the faith he had in him is obviously reciprocated.
The move will be another blow to Newcastle fans, who have already lost Ayoze Perez and Benitez.
TIF Tactics
Rondon was a big hit at Newcastle last season and the stats speak for themselves. He scored 11 goals in 30 Premier League appearances but it was his link-up play that really caught the eye.
Rondon added seven assists and six of them came from his partnership with Newcastle’s top scorer Ayoze Perez.
That was the second-best Assist to Goal Scorer number in the Premier League, second behind Callum Wilson/Ryan Fraser and ahead of Raul Jimenez/Diogo Jota.
Benitez obviously thought he could still do a job in the Premier League but it seems like he’ll get his man anyway, albeit in the Chinese Super League.
