Seems like this will be the decider on whether Benitez stays or goes, if the Mirror is to be believed. Rafa is desperate to sign Rondon but will Ashley splash the cash on a 30 y/o striker? If so how much do WBA want for the lad and does it tally up? To be honest with you - I wouldn't want to pay much more than £10-12m for him, yes he has done really well this season, works his nuts off but I'm still not convinced he will beak the 10 goal barrier this season (doing better than I thought he would admittedly - so hopefully he'll keep proving me wrong) and I'm near as hell sure he'll never get you 15 goals a season - currently on 6 goals and 3 assists from 19 games. Plus the fact he's 30 at the beginning of next season and I think there's got to be better options out there. Maybe I'd stretch to the tier above if it meant keeping Rafa. WBA wanted £13 for him in the summer which we weren't willing to pay but maybe if they don't get promoted they will cash in? If Batshuyai can go on loan to Palace I'd rather pay £15-20 for a striker like him (pacey) who's 4/5 years younger and he can't get a game at Chelsea even though they don't rate the strikers they have and play Hazard up top.
I think the fact that they have 2 of OUR players currently on loan there will mean that some wheeling and dealing will most likely be mooted. I'd quite happily do a straight swap for either Gayle or Muprhy for Rondon. There's no way Murphy is worth the £12m we paid for him but if he does a good job for them in the 2nd half of this season then I'm pretty sure they'll be keen to keep him. If we got £10m-£12m + Rondon with Murphy and Gayle going to WBA permanently I'd be ****ing ecstatic. I go back to one of my previous posts. We haven't had a 20+ goals a season striker since Shearer in 03/04. Rondon nor Gayle will never get us that so we need someone who will in my opinion....it's criminal that it's been so long !
I think any swapy deal would depend on WBA getting promoted. If they don't get promoted then swap on. If they do, I personally think they would look to keep Rondon
Gayle's getting the goals this season at WBA and I'm sure they'll be keen on keeping him. They're the same age (both 29, Gayle's a month younger), surely this could be a like for like swap with no extra money needed? Gayle was no use for us in the Prem, whereas Rondon is fitting in well, do a straight swap.
Given his contract runs out in June I wouldn't pay anything We have Gayle under contract until 2021 though, so they will have to pay for ours mwhahahaha
And £5M Prefer the straight swap and wait for our six fingered neighbours offer us £10M for Joselu if they get promoted.
Pretty sure this. When I heard we were doing a loan swap it did seem odd initially that Gayle had a few years left and yet Rondon only had 12 months so we could have both at the end of the season. However, I'm relatively sure there was an extension agreed to in advance of the loan. Still though, I can't see them being able to demand more than £10m or so for one year left on the contract. Swap would be great. And don't give up on Murphy yet. He's still young and if he does great at West Brom I'll welcome him back.
If reports are true, Murphy had a real stinker on his WBA debut. Not impressing the Baggies fans thus far. Let’s hope he improves.
How can we forget it! As you say he won't play in the Championship so WBA will have to sell and we'll be in the PL so we have a chance!
But you are forgetting Agent Murphy, is there to ensure that WBA don't get promoted so Rondon will prefer to stay with us!
