Salomon Rondon will cost Newcastle £16.5million to sign permanently — and they have been warned to get a move on or expect competition for him.
Rondon has scored 12 goals this season while on loan from West Brom and their failure to get back into the Premier League, having been knocked out of the Championship play-offs by Aston Villa on Tuesday, means the cost of any deal has been set.
The striker will have a one-year contract extension triggered when he is handed back to the Baggies next month — which will include a £16.5m release clause because they are remaining in the second tier.
Venezuela international Rondon is keen to join Newcastle permanently, with his family settled in Northumberland having just enjoyed his best season in English football.
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But Toon manager Rafa Benitez is set for a battle to convince the club to spend that sort of money on a player who turns 30 in September.
Owner Mike Ashley wants Newcastle to spend on younger talents who have potentially huge sell-on values —and to keep the squad's older players hungry.
Benitez is not against signing players aged under 26, but wants flexibility in that policy.
The Spaniard is set for talks this week with Ashley over a new contract as his three-year deal expires this summer, and compromise is expected on both sides that will end with him staying.
West Brom have had Dwight Gayle and Jacob Murphy on loan from Newcastle this season, and could use the former, who scored 24 goals for them and is rated at £15m, as bait.
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On his future, Rondon said: “For me, for a striker, I’m always happy when I score, and scoring goals is the only thing in my mind.
“I’m here, I’m really happy – I scored 11 goals (in the Premier League), 12 for the season, so I’m really happy. I did my job, and this is the reason the gaffer brought me here – to help the team. I did, and we’ll have to wait.
“The supporters singing my name – that was a special moment for me, because I tried to do my job, to work really hard. I scored goals, I assisted the team, so I think I did my job. We have to wait and we will see what happens.”
He added: “You have to enjoy it. The feedback between the supporters and the players is special, because they recognise my job. I’m really happy to play for Newcastle United, to be here with my teammates, with the club, so we will see what happens.”
