OPINION
The proposed swap deal between Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion involving strikers Dwight Gayle and Salomon Rondon is said to have stalled.
As reported by Sky Sports, the deal is currently looking unlikely to go through as Newcastle insist on an obligation to buy Gayle at the end of a season-long loan.
The broadcaster claim that West Brom are also unwilling to pay Gayle’s current wages, and the two sides are looking far from an agreement as deadline day looms.
It is not known what Newcastle’s next move in negotiations will be, but it seems pretty clear what that should be.
The Magpies must now drop their demands for the Baggies to buy Gayle at the end of the loan, and see where that takes negotiations this week.
It is understandable why the club are looking to insert such a clause, but if such a demand is holding up talks, then they must compromise and drop it.
The most important thing for the club here is to secure the signing of Rondon, and there is little point jeopardising that by making unnecessary demands.
Seeing Gayle return to the club next summer will not be a disaster by any means, with the club then able to either hand him another shot or sell him on permanently.
Should Gayle have a good season with the Baggies, that will not be a problem, and if he doesn’t have a good campaign, then there should be suitors anyway.
Once they drop this demand then negotiations can hopefully move on, and the two sides can address the discrepancy in wages for the 27-year-old.
It may be that the Magpies have to subsidise Gayle’s wages for him to agree to the move, and again the club must do so quickly to push through the move.
The priority has to be to secure Rondon as soon as possible, and they must do everything in their power to achieve that with just eight days remaining before the window shuts.
