OPINION
Salomon Rondon has been like a breath of fresh air for Newcastle United this season. They needed a striker who provided a genuine threat, and they got it in the shape of the Venezuelan.
Granted, the 29-year-old is not the most prolific of forwards – a slow start to the campaign has seen him score ten goals in 26 appearances – but the way he has given the Magpies a new lease of life up front will surely leave many fans grateful.
Rondon is set to join any interested club £16.5 million if West Brom fail to get to the Premier League this season, with the price tag set to rise if they do manage to achieve that aim. So far, so good right?
However, there is almost always going to be a spanner in the works when owner Mike Ashley is involved. He is not a man renound for being generous with his cash, and that is no different with his stance on the potential signing of Rondon.
According to the Daily Star, the Sports Direct tycoon is reluctant to sanction a deal for the attacker due to the fact that he is turning 30 this September.
The entire Newcastle fanbase are going to be fuming with his latest transfer stance. How is having this stance even acceptable? Yes, he is getting older, but that does not mean that his form is going to be suddenly compromised.
The report adds that he only wants to finance moves for younger players, and while this is a step in the right direction, it means that Rondon’s possible switch to St James’ Park is really hanging in the balance.
While it’s true Ashley is clearly eyeing players with better resale values as it can be hard to sell a player above 30, if Rondon continues going the way he is, he is more than worth investing in as his goals could consistently secure the club’s Premier League status, which is worth millions on paper.
In footballing terms, this would be a worst case scenario for the club. Rondon is the best striker they have had in a long time, and now they are on the verge of missing out on him as their Premier League rivals Everton lurk. How quickly things escalate.
Either way, all Newcastle fans are going to be raging with Ashley and his nonsensical transfer stance.
