Wolverhampton Wanderers are the first club to declare their hand and rival Newcastle United for the signature of Salomon Rondon.
Wolves’ interest – first revealed in the Chronicle’s Notebook feature back in March – presents a real alternative to the Venezuela striker and their attitude to the deal is very different from United’s.
The Black Country club’s local ‘paper the Express & Star confirm through club sources that Rondon is a target and they see him as a potential rival to Raul Jimenez. They will happily trigger his £16.5million contract clause and believe that the player himself would be interested in the move.
There is unlikely to be a quick resolution, however, with Rondon keen to assess his options after a successful season in the Premier League with Newcastle – the club he regards a first choice option if Rafa Benitez remains at St James’ Park.
Newcastle don't see the fee as necessarily a problem, but the length and size of his contract and the agent demands would have to be factored in. They calculated a permanent deal might cost as much as £40million last summer, including fees and his wages over the course of his contract - which is why the loan deal was done.
Rondon liked playing for Benitez, felt settled in the region and appreciated the way the club’s fans took him to their heart during a season when he hit double figures in the league for the first time in England.
However we need to inject a dose of realism into the situation: his wage demands and the demands of his agent last summer were prohibitive to a permanent deal as far as Newcastle were concerned. A year older and with a lavishly-funded Wolves also involved, it creates complications to a potential deal for United.
Lee Charnley said back in April that a deal could be struck at the right price but the club’s preference is for younger players who can provide more value over the length of their contracts.
Salomon Rondon deal is an option this summer, confirms Newcastle United MD Lee Charnley
It is a highly contetntious policy as far as many fans are concerned and places a premium on potential over the clear and present clout that Rondon brings to Newcastle right now. His ten goals were a massive part of Newcastle’s strong finish and he lifted the performances of those around him. If it was up to Benitez, still locked in talks with the club over the contract extension both parties want him to sign, Rondon would be a United player on a permanent basis by now.
There is an irony about Wolves looking to sign him. They have funds and ambition to strengthen again this summer and they clearly don’t care about long-term value, which is the point Newcastle have been making about their transfer plans. It is an attitude United fans would dearly love their club to have but with so much in the balance at St James’ Park, the close season has been a familiar tale of uncertainty so far.
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