Gayle could help earn Newcastle a cut-price deal for loanee Rondon in the summer

Add as preferred source on Google

West Brom have named their asking price for Newcastle loanee Salomon Rondon if they are to sell him in the summer, as reported by the Northern Echo.

They report that the Baggies value the target man at £16m, and feel they are in a strong negotiating position because Newcastle are not the only club interested in Rondon’s services.

Mike Ashley apparently has concerns about signing players in their 30s – and Rondon will be that age in September, so that could raise a barrier to him joining full-time.

But Dwight Gayle moved the other way as part of a the summer deal and if the Baggies buy him during the summer, Newcastle could reportedly snare Rondon for just £6m.

That part-exchange could work out best for all parties – but of course at this stage, both club’s demands for next season are not quite clear because neither knows which league they will be playing in.

They will both be hoping they’re Premier League sides but both could conceivably be in the Championship – where Gayle may actually prove to be the more potent goalscorer.

But if Rafa Benitez can use a player he viewed as dispensable to his Premier League plans this season in order to engineer a deal for Rondon for around £6m – which is peanuts in today’s market – then that would be impressive business indeed.