West Brom have triggered an extension in Salomon Rondon’s contract which means his deal at the Hawthorns now ends in 2020 rather than 2019, reports the Daily Mail.
The Venezuelan would have been available on a free transfer at the end of his loan spell with us, but the club will now have to pay a fee for the striker if he does well this season:
Some fans on Twitter pointed the finger at Mike Ashley for his penny-pinching:
Now who could have predicted that (apart from every non-Ashley apologist Newcastle fan)? ????
— Mike Anderson #IfRafaGoesWeGo (@MikeNE3) 16 August 2018
Swap for Lyle and Scott section at House of Fraser #donedeal
— Martin Russell (@Russell19871) 16 August 2018
@M12Arron pic.twitter.com/m75pwyqjl4
— Steve Rankin (@SR1502) 16 August 2018
They won’t be fussed because Ashley and Benitez know that the latter will not be there next season.
— Scott Parker (@ParkerBlyth) 17 August 2018
That’s him going back then ????.
— Michael Walker (@Mickylad1) 16 August 2018
We only sign either prospects to sell at a profit or short term fixes usually on loan – he’s the latter
— Sean (@sehol) 16 August 2018
Suppose we will just have him for the one season then ????
— ianmarshall. (@ian9694) 16 August 2018
Others don’t see what the fuss is all about:
I suspect we never wanted to buy him anyway. Regardless of how successful this loan is, Mike Ashley won’t spend a penny on a player who is in his 30’s. Enjoy him whilst we have him lads.
— Regular Chris (@chapbeast) 16 August 2018
If both are successful gayle and Rondon swap most likely with us paying 5m on top or so
— Costa del Dummett (@TomHadwin3) 16 August 2018
Loan him again next year like Kenedy.
— sakdaho (@sakdaho) 17 August 2018
It’s all very much hypothetical at this stage. Rafa Benitez’s future at the club will have to be decided first and foremost before decisions are made on new signings. Then, we will have to see how Rondon does this season. If he fails to make an impact, he will return to the Baggies anyway.
We also have to consider Dwight Gayle. If the 27-year-old performs well, we could very well use him as the bargaining chip if we want the Venezuelan international on a permanent deal.