OPINION
Newcastle United are clearly in need of signing a new forward this summer but West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon shouldn’t be the man they go for.
The Magpies are thought to be pursuing the powerhouse forward, as reported previously by the Daily Mail, and while he ticks a lot of boxes there has to be a better option.
A deal for Rondon should be relatively easy to complete, compared to some options that have been linked to the club, as according to The Mirror there is a £16million release clause in his contract ready to be activated after WBA’s recent relegation.
This means that as soon as Rafa Benitez gets the green light to spend that amount of money from Mike Ashley then a deal to welcome Rondon can quickly move to the agreeing personal terms stage.
With his situation being so easy to take advantage of and the forward no doubt on the look out for a Premier League suitor to save him from a life in the Championship next season, it’s easy to see this deal coming to fruition.
However after scoring just 24 goals in 108 Premier League appearances and not looking like a player that would naturally fit Rafa Benitez’s ideal style of play, the Magpies shouldn’t go for him.
If the club really are going to spend a significant sum of money, at least for them, then they have to get the decision right or Ashley will use it as an example of money not delivering the goods to hold onto his cash for the rest of his time at the club.
The powerhouse forward excels from long balls being played up towards him but that’s not going to be a common occurrence if Benitez’s vision for the Magpies is truly realised, passes will mostly likely be short and sweet between his players.
The only exception will be the long passes played over the opposition’s defence by Jonjo Shelvey which require a more pacey forward than Rondon to make the most of.
So while Rondon would be the easy option to take in the Magpies’ hunt for a forward, he’s not the right one.
