West Ham United lead the race to sign Salomon Rondon after events at Newcastle United.
The Northern Echo have reported that West Ham United are leading the race to sign West Bromwich Albion hitman Salomon Rondon, after the development at Newcastle United.
Newcastle announced this week that Rafael Benitez had left the club after failing to agree a new contract with the Magpies, who are now hindered in their ability to sign players until a new manager is appointed.
Benitez brought Rondon to St James’s Park on a season-long loan last summer and the Venezuela international told friends [The Mirror, 18/06/2019] that he wanted to stay in the North East.
West Ham have also been linked and, according to The Northern Echo, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are new favourites to sign the Baggies striker this summer.
The report adds that the Hammers are set to ‘push ahead’ with trying to bring him to East London, after already seeing a £10 million bid knocked back – West Brom, it seems, want £16.5 million.
The Irons have also been linked with a move for Maxi Gomez but, according to The Mirror, the Uruguayan striker is waiting to see if Tottenham Hotspur make an approach for him before deciding his future.
In any case, Rondon, also linked with Mexican side Cruz Azul, might be the better option. After all, the 29-year-old, who scored 11 Premier League goals last season, is a proven player in England’s top flight and the same can’t be said for Gomez just yet.
Yes, the Celta Vigo hitman may take the league by storm some day, but for now he’s just a player who scored 13 times in 35 games for the Spanish side last season and maybe, just maybe, Rondon – who earns £60,000 per week at West Brom [Spotrac] – is the safer bet.
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