Andy Cole is not convinced by the loan signing of striker Salomon Rondon at Newcastle United and admitted that the club have created their “own problems.”
Rondon signed on loan for the season from West Brom in the summer, and has managed to muster up ten goals in all competitions for the Magpies so far – however, ex-United forward Cole has not been convinced by him, and says that he is not capable of getting more goals than summer departure Aleksandar Mitrovic.
He adds that Rafa Benitez will be able to keep the side up this season if he brings in two or three players in this current transfer window – but only if he is given the required funds in order to do so.
“If you look at what’s at the bottom there are maybe a few teams worse off than Newcastle but if they do get a little bit of money to spend now to get two or three players to strengthen the squad, he’ll keep them up,” he said on Sky Sports’ ‘The Debate‘ [16/01].
“The strange one for me is looking at who they brought in. They got rid of Mitrovic and brought in Rondon. Rondon’s not going to score more goals than Mitrovic, he’s not going to do it so you create your own problems.”
OPINION
Despite the fact that Newcastle are currently in 18th place in the Premier League, it is rather unfair of Cole to savage Rondon in the way that he has. He has scored more goals this season than the whole team combined, and he is arguably their main source of goals. Without him, Newcastle do not threaten as much up front – something which has been particularly evident recently due to Joselu getting the nod. Yes, Mitrovic has scored more goals – there is no going away from that – but Rondon is the best player that Newcastle could have got with their budget in the summer, and to be honest, Benitez has worked wonders with. He is not the most prolific of strikers, but he has improved considerably compared to his time with the Baggies. If Benitez chooses to opt for Rondon in the next few games, then there is no doubt that he will deliver the goods for him.
