It seems West Brom’s failure to agree personal terms with Dwight Gayle could stop Salomon Rondon’s move to the club from going ahead.
Both Sky Sports News and the Chronicle believe the Baggies are not able to match our no.9’s salary while Sky also say that the Championship side are refusing to accept a purchase clause in the season-long loan deal.
It means Rondon’s switch is now in serious doubt. Fans on Twitter reacted to the news with many frustrated at the turn of events:
Shocker
— Stephen Smith (@stephen382) 1 August 2018
So typical
— Tahir (@TAkbar) 1 August 2018
How many windows now have we been trying to sign a main Striker? People will say we got Mutō, but he’s more of a second striker. It really is laughable.
— BurstOfTheStar (@BurstOfTheStar) 1 August 2018
But why would the swap need to happen? Is Rondon not a replacement for mitro? I’d rather keep Gayle, offers something different
— TheDamien (@southern_damian) 1 August 2018
announce Emmanuel Riviere
— Alex Maxwell (@Alex_Maxwell98) 1 August 2018
It’s fair to say that most were not surprised by the lack of progress:
Not at all surprising
— Drew Blood (@drw5) 1 August 2018
What do you expect with Harry Hill in charge of transfers
— Lee M (@mrploppys) 1 August 2018
Doesn’t surprise me one bit mind
— k hogg (@KieranHogg1) 1 August 2018
Back to square one.
— Andy (@AndyhHiggins89) 1 August 2018
Where do we turn now as a target man is still needed
— James Knowlson (@jimknowlson) 1 August 2018
The Chronicle believe that the club will now have to pay the £16.5m release clause to seal a deal for the South American striker. Considering we reportedly received an initial £22m from Fulham for Aleksandar Mitrovic, the money really shouldn’t be a problem.
However, with this club, things are not ever that straightforward. Hopefully, Rafa can force the club to put up some money for the Venezuelan before the transfer window closes.