Newcastle United enjoyed a fairly impressive return to the Premier League last season. The Magpies finished the season in 10th place, amassing a total of 44 points. However, there is an area of concern as the Magpies scored 39 goals and conceded 47 in the process.
Rafa Benitez’s main objective was to retain the club’s spot in the Premier League, which he did. The Magpies also ended their season on a high with a 3-0 win against Chelsea. Newcastle must now ready themselves for the upcoming season.
Most of the Premier League clubs have already gotten busy over the summer, making a number of signings. Benitez must also get things started from his side.
Now, Newcastle often found it hard to score goals last season. Their attack was unreliable and looked toothless going forward. Benitez often rotated his strikers, with Dwight Gayle, Joselu and Ayoze Perez all misfiring. Hence, this is an area that Newcastle really need to look into.
One name that has popped up amidst the transfer reports is that of West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon. The Baggies endured a miserable season and have been relegated to the Championship. Hence, Rondon could be looking for an exit and Newcastle will be a viable option. The prospect of returning to the Premier League would make the deal quite appealing for the Venezuelan striker.
He made 36 appearances for West Brom in the league, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists. His aggressive and bullish approach on the ball makes him a difficult striker to mark for defenders. Though Rondon may be 28, he has three seasons’ worth of Premier League experience under his belt.
His the physical style of play is something Benitez has lacked at Newcastle. The striker scored 10 goals in all competitions, which trumps the contributions made by Joselu, Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez. Thus, he would be a great addition to this Newcastle side.
West Brom director Lee Charnley has reportedly told Benitez that they can discuss terms if Newcastle are ready to meet the player’s release clause, which stands at £16m.
It is vital for the Magpies manager to complete the deal sooner rather than later. If they are aiming for another strong season in the league, it is important to sign a player like Rondon, who will improve the squad.
