Aston Villa will come up against Newcastle United next season if they earn promotion from the Championship.
Paul Merson has urged Aston Villa to sign Newcastle United’s Salomon Rondon if they earn promotion to the Premier League this season.
The 29-year-old, who is on loan at St James’ Park from Championship side West Brom, has had a successful campaign in the North East thus far.
As reported by the Birmingham Mail, if Albion don’t earn promotion from the second tier then Rondon has a £16.5 million release clause in his contract.
Speaking to Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports News (30/03/2019 at 1:10 pm), Merson claims if he was in Newcastle’s shoes he would have already signed Rondon on a permanent basis as he advised Villa to do so if they go up.
“I would have brought him [Rondon] already [for Newcastle],” Merson told Soccer Saturday. “He is a major player. He is there best player. He’s a handful.
“I mean £16 and a half million, who is looking to come up this season? If I was Aston Villa and you got promoted, I’d be buying him straightaway for £16 million. In football terms, that’s a cup of tea.”
At this moment in time, Villa are sitting fifth in the Championship table and if they continue in their ways then they will finish in a play-off spot.
As for Rondon’s parent club, they could potentially meet their Midlands rivals in the play-offs if both clubs maintain their current positions.
Either way, whether Rondon stays at Albion, signs on a permanent basis for Newcastle or joins another club, he has proved during this Premier League campaign that he belongs in England’s top-flight.
Over the course of the season, he has played 25 league games for the Toon Army, scoring nine goals and supplying his teammates with five assists [transfermarkt].
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