West Ham should steer clear of signing West Brom’s Salomon Rondon

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West Ham United have been linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon.

According to a report in the Express and Star, West Ham United are keen on signing West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon in a £16.5 million deal following his relegation to the Championship.

The Baggies’ failure to survive in the Premier League is likely to see several of their key players leave such as Johnny Evans, Nacer Chadli and striker Rondon who has a £16.5 million release clause.

The Venezuela international previously played under newly-appointed Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga, helping the Spanish side starve of relegation before moving on to Russia.

But Rondon’s success in England has been more limited, scoring just 24 goals in 108 Premier League appearances and failing to reach double figures in each of his three seasons at the Hawthorns.

West Ham have big aspirations of establishing themselves as a top Premier League club, and they certainly have the location of London and a top-class stadium to help them achieve their goal.

But in order to follow in the footsteps of Tottenham Hotspur, the East London club must look at Spurs’ transfer philosophy of buying players with huge potential rather than trying to buy ageing established pros.

Tottenham have been made to sell key players such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Kyle Walker along the way, but their transfer dealings are sustainable while progression on the pitch has been evident.

West Ham have the potential to reach that level but buying players such as Rondon seems a waste of time considering the former Zenit striker turns 29 in September has little re-sale value.

The West Brom attacker isn’t going to fire them to a top six spot, and for such a figure, West Ham could use the money to put towards buying a top prospect with a huge re-sale value such as Real Betis ace Fabian Ruiz.

Moreover, with Rondon currently pocketing wages of £60,000 per week (Spotrac), the Hammers may well have to exceed that figure and again it’s money they’d be better off spending elsewhere.