Reporter offers update on deals for Swansea's Jordan Ayew & West Brom's Salomon Rondon
According to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder, Newcastle are yet to make an approach for Swansea's Jordan Ayew, whilst a deal for Salomon Rondon could be too costly - despite Rafa Benitez showing an interest in the West Brom striker.
Starting with Rondon, it seems like Benitez is a fan of the striker and has looked into a deal to sign the 28-year-old, however it's looking expensive.
High wages, agent/signing on fees and a £16.5m release look set to make it a deal that looks a little costly for a striker who's only scored 28 goals in three seasons in England.
Here's what the Chronicle's update on our pursuit of the Venezuelan:
"Benitez was keen on signing West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon, but the overall cost of the transfer could prove to be too much for United.
"Rondon has a £16.5million release clause but the player’s personal terms and agent and signing on fees would see the transfer package spiral significantly and Benitez knows he is only initially getting a similar kitty to last summer when around £40million was spent on new faces."
Then to Ayew and Football Ghana claimed earlier today that we'd jumped ahead of Fulham in the race to sign last season's top scorer at Swansea, but it seems our interest in the 26-year-old is not as serious as they claim.
Here's what Lee Ryder has had to say on the links to Ayew:
"It is believed that there has been no approach so far from the Magpies , with the 26-year-old’s agent currently offering the player around various clubs this summer.
"Ayew has been valued at £13million by the Swans, with Fulham also credited with interest in the winger who can also operate as a striker.
"But Ayew is not a priority for Benitez who is keen to bring a proven Premier League striker."
This will probably come as good and bad news for some NUFC fans. I imagine that a few are glad to hear that deals for neither look likely (with both being anything but proven and prolific strikers at Premier League level), however it is a worry that we're struggling to compete financially.
It may be wise to look elsewhere if Rondon is going to cost too much, but it's a concern to hear that we're refusing to pay the going rates yet again.
