Striker Salomon Rondon has admitted that he would return to Newcastle in January if he was given the opportunity to do so.
The Venezuelan spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Newcastle, scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions and becoming a firm favourite with the Magpies faithful during that period.
No permanent move to St James’ materialised however, and Rondon instead followed his former Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez with Dalian Yifang after they reportedly triggered his £16.5million release at parent club West Brom.
Despite that, it seems Rondon is still not ruling out a return to the North East of England in the near future.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian about the possibility of a move back to Newcastle, the 31-year-old said: “In the end a footballer’s career is so short and I try to take care of my family, my kids and my own future.
“But if, in January, I had a chance to sign again for Newcastle I would do it for sure because they gave me a lot and I felt so much when I was at St James’.”
As things stand, there are still just over two years remaining on Rondon’s contract with Dalain Yfang, securing his future at the club until the end of the 2022 calendar year.
Given the impact he made at Newcastle during his first spell at the club, there were plenty who would have wanted to see Rondon make his move to St James’ permanent immediately, and would surely also be interested in a reunion such as this.
However, when you consider Rondon’s contract situation, and the fact he is apparently being paid £8million-per year in China, this deal will not be cheap for the Magpies to complete.
There is also the question of whether Rondon would be able to have the same influence at the club given the changes that have go on since he was last here, and it is worth noting that he is now further down the line in his career than the last time he was at St James’ Park.