Despite West Brom’s perilous situation at the foot of the table, Newcastle have found themselves linked with a few of their players – but would the Hawthorns be the right aisle to shop in?
It’s inevitable that the vultures will soon start circling overhead to pick apart the bones of the three relegated clubs, but the Magpies should probably steer clear of eyeing up a West Brom unit that has looked bereft of ideas all season.
The Magpies are on the hunt for a proven Premier League goalscorer, and Jay Rodriguez is a name that has been mentioned. Alas, he is not the same player who scored 17 goals during the 13/14 season and was a cruciate ligament injury away from an almost guaranteed World Cup place.
His winner at Old Trafford was just his seventh league goal of the season, and 12th in his previous 79 outings in the top-flight.
Kieran Gibbs is a player who will no doubt be linked with the club, having been heavily mooted to join before signing for the Baggies last summer. But such is the upturn in form of Paul Dummett, who has outperformed Gibbs by a country mile this campaign, a left-back should no longer be at the top of Newcastle’s transfer list.
If Newcastle are to fish in the cesspit pool of players that have spent most of the season being left to aimlessly flounder under Alan Pardew, then only one name stands out – with Salomon Rondon having a £16.5 million release clause inserted in his contract.
Strong, athletic and ferocious in the air, the Venezuelan is a real handful for defences and if the club aren’t able to finalise a deal for Islam Slimani, Rondon could be the answer to their goalscoring woes.
But then again – the club haven’t spent upwards of £16 million since 2005.