According to Matt Wilson of the Express & Star, West Brom have agreed a fee with Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang for the ‘undisclosed’ signing of striker Salomon Rondon which has left some supporters fuming with the club’s transfer activity this summer.
New boss Slaven Bilic was appointed over a month ago but the club have only made one summer signing so far with the arrival of Filip Krovinovic on a season-long loan from Benfica. The Baggies have already lost a host of talent over the summer with 24-goal striker Dwight Gayle returning to Newcastle whilst the sale of both Craig Dawson (£5m) to Watford and Jay Rodriguez (£5m) to Burnley add to the departures.
Now Rondon is expected to follow with his former boss Rafa Benitez swooping in. Benitez left Newcastle for China earlier this month and had the striker on loan this season – The Venezuelan international enjoyed a successful spell under the Spaniard scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances for The Magpies.
The 29-year-old reportedly has a £16.5m release clause but the figure involved in the deal with Dalian Yifang hasn’t been revealed – causing a stir amongst the West Brom fanbase with many worried at the lack of transfer activity ahead of the new Championship season which begins on August 3rd away to Nottingham Forest.
You can read the thoughts of just some of the West Brom supporters below:
That'll be player number 14 leaving the club this summer. One player in. Three weeks left. That means 4 players a week coming in. Really??? Dreadful management by the top brass… Disgraceful in fact! #LaiOut #DowlingOut #WBA
— Mark 'Boing' Walker (@MarkBoingWalker) July 15, 2019
In a couple of months we’ve lost 13 players and brought in 1.
Can’t see anywhere near 12 players coming in during the next two weeks.
— Bomber’s Boots ⚫⚪???? (@BombersBoots) July 15, 2019
I’m all for us being financially stable, but is *all* of the money going to go on new players? Has all the Chadli money been spent? Has all the Saido money been spent?? Will all the Rondon money be re-invested, or will another big load “go missing”?
— inderjit singh (@DesiBaggie) July 15, 2019
I dont care what the fee is I just wanna see some player bought, not loaned, a rb, ch, cm, winger and 2 strikers are needed asap of quality
— AdKido44 (@AdKido44) July 16, 2019
We really don’t need to wait until the deal is completed to buy players. It’s just cash flow which I’m sure we can manage. Rondon will be sold and if we keep delaying we’ll end up with the players no one wants or are overpriced. Find your targets and get it done
— Paul McCudden (@niknakdaddymac) July 16, 2019
More money in the bank for no one to spend
— pete (@Pete523) July 15, 2019
We need to reinvest the money in two/three players…
— Skel (@L_SK3LDON) July 15, 2019
Must be a fan of working with Rafa and money. Happy we’re getting the deal done but he definitely was worthy of playing in the Premier League again after last season.
— Colm Brosnan (@ColmBrosnan) July 15, 2019