Benitez makes move for TWO strikers - Rondon to sign via surprise 'swap deal' with West Brom?

After claims from the Daily Mail that Newcastle are now in talks over a £9m deal to sign Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto, they also report that 'progress' has now been made over a 'loan swap deal' involving Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.

With us clearly reluctant to pay the 28-year old's £16.5m release clause, it seems we are now pursuing a deal which would see Dwight Gayle loaned to West Brom for the season, with the powerful Venezuelan coming the other way.

It's not ideal, but this may be a viable way of bringing in two strikers of Benitez's choice - and may explain why Gayle wasn't included in last night's trip to Hull.

Here's what The Mail have had to say on the Rondon deal:

'Rafa Benitez has been pushing for reinforcements and believes progress is also being made on a potential loan swap deal involving West Brom's Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.

'Albion are extending Rondon's contract by a year to protect their asset and a permanent option will be discussed at the end of the season.'

The last line is an interesting one and would make a lot of sense for them. Rondon's current deal is set to expire next summer so a loan move would make no sense for them if he was to be a free agent at the end of it.

So, if Fulham agree to pay our alleged £18m asking price, it sounds like we *might* see Mitrovic and Gayle leave, with Muto and Rondon arrive - with the former linked with a permanent move and the latter being discussed on loan with an option to sign.

Would you be happy with this?