Did Newcastle United sign the wrong striker from West Brom this summer?

By Jay Williams

Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion completed a rare striker loan swap deal this summer.

Salomon Rondon joined Newcastle with Dwight Gayle heading the other way.

But were Newcastle mistaken in pursuing Rondon? Should they have tried to sign Jay Rodriguez – Rondon’s teammate – instead?

Newcastle have found goals hard to come by this season. With just six goals in eight Premier League games, it is no surprise that they are in the bottom three.

Rondon has failed to contribute with a league goal in his four outings, although he does have a cup goal to his name.

And now the Venezuela international is injured.

On the other hand, Rodriguez’s tally for the season stands at seven goals in 12 games.

(Photo by Adam Fradgley – AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images)

Even though it is in a league below, it is still a cause for concern when an individual has more goals than Newcastle’s entire team.

Rodriguez and Rondon are, of course, entirely different players.

What Rafa Benitez saw in Rondon was a physical presence up front; he is a handful for defenders and a threat in the air.

But Rodriguez offers more goal threat and ultimately, that is what Newcastle lack at the moment.

Dwight Gayle is also rattling in the goals for the Baggies, making it a double frustration as the Magpies ultimately look to have got the worse side of the deal.