West Bromwich Albion are digging in their heels, with the West Midlands outfit holding out for the full £16.5million release clause in Salomon Rondon’s contract, according to the Daily Star.
It is thought our efforts to retain the Venezuelan beyond his season on loan have so far resulted in a best offer in the region of £12million, but there is no chance the Baggies will accept that after West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers entered the race.
The top-half Premier League side’s interest in Rondon has allegedly convinced West Brom that they have no need to accept a cut-price deal for the forward, despite the 29-year-old soon entering the final year of his contract at the Hawthorns.
Dwight Gayle’s return to Tyneside following his reverse loan spell has also thrown a spanner into the works, given West Brom’s failure to earn promotion meant they cannot meet, what is now claimed to be, the striker’s £65,000-a-week wage demand.
The Daily Star also mention our proposed takeover by Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as his purchase of United would ensure the £4.5million difference in valuations would no longer be an issue.
But if we are to see Rondon lining up at St James’ Park in Black and White come August, current owner Mike Ashley will likely have to dig his hand into his pocket for potentially the final time, otherwise risks his tenure coming to an end with one final gut-wrenching blow to the Magpies fanbase.
It is, admittedly, unlikely that Ashley will buy Rondon out of his West Brom contract before the speculated takeover is concluded, along with Rafa Benitez’s contract negotiations, but it may be the only way we beat West Ham and Wolves to the punch.