Four years ago today, Salomon Rondon wrote his name into the Premier League record books.
Only one player in Premier League history had ever scored a hat-trick of headers in one game; the deadly Duncan Ferguson all the way back in 1997. But, as Swansea City arrived in the Midlands, the West Brom target man ensured that the Everton legend would have some company.
Three brilliant headers secured a 3-1 win for the Baggies, a match-ball for Rondon and, to cap it off, cult hero status at The Hawthorns.
So, with the Mirror (13 December, page 62) reporting that Venezuela’s all-time record goal-scorer could be returning to the Midlands during the January transfer window, West Brom cannot sit idly by as Rondon weighs up the possibility of joining the club some 30 miles north of his old Hawthorns hunting ground.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to score in each of their games without the stricken Raul Jimenez. And the Mirror reports that, with the goals drying up and the relegation zone in sight, Wolves have identified Rondon as the ideal quick fix to a growing problem.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have scored just 11 goals in 12 Premier League matches – and Jimenez even featured in nine of those.
That is still two more than West Brom have managed, however, with the newly-promoted side already at risk of bouncing straight back into the Championship.
No one in Slaven Bilic’s squad has scored more than twice, with £15 million record signing Karlan Grant failing to find the next in his last six matches.
Grant was hauled off at half-time during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, with Charlie Austin coming off the bench for his first league minutes of the entire campaign.
With all due respect to the former Southampton, QPR and Burnley striker, the fact that Austin has suddenly been thrown back into the side – after spending the first three months of the season out of favour – highlights a growing sense of desperation.
So with the Mirror suggesting that £16.5 million Rondon could be ready for a return to England after 14 goals in 28 games in China with Dalian Pro, Wolves are not the only Midlands-based outfit who should be dropping the Venezuelan a message.
On the fourth anniversary of his famous hat-trick, West Brom are missing Rondon more than ever.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
