A report by the Chronicle discussing the future of Salomon Rondon offers we Newcastle supporters reasons to be positive over the chances of his return, but just as many reasons why we should still be cynical.
The local paper claims that while Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United are still keen on the West Bromwich Albion striker, they too have baulked at the idea of paying £16.5million for a soon-to-be 30-year-old, on top of his £60,000-a-week contract and however much his agent demands for brokering the deal.
West Ham have also been focusing their efforts elsewhere recently, and have been able to land one of their other targets as a result, with the Irons confirming on Friday that Pablo Fornals would be moving to East London from Villarreal for a reported £24million.
Rondon, himself, is still keen to secure a return to Tyneside this summer, and is willing to put a potential move to Turkey in his rear-view mirror after Fenerbahce showed an interest in striking a deal.
However, the 29-year-old will not be focusing on his domestic future for the next few weeks, as the 6 ft 1 centre-forward – who scored 12 goals for us last season – is now preparing for the Copa America with Venezuela, meaning where he plies his trade come August will likely have to wait until July.
By that point, we will also know one way or another whether or not Rafa Benitez will be standing in the United dugout next term, and should he leave, we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of seeing Rondon in our Black and White home kit again.
It has once again been stressed that all hopes of retaining Rondon rely on the boss signing a new contract, otherwise the club will begin to target other strikers, with Dwight Gayle currently our only senior striker having returned from his loan spell at the Hawthorns.
The cynical supporters among us will likely doubt we will ever see Benitez or Rondon again at St James’ Park representing the Magpies, and come July 1, they may be proved right.