West Brom defiant on £20m Craig Dawson
Albion will refuse to budge over Craig Dawson’s £20million asking price – as striker Salomon Rondon edges nearer the exit door.
Rondon has been tracked all summer by Newcastle and talks between the two clubs are expected to pick up again after Alexsander Mitrovic completed a £22m switch from the Magpies to Fulham yesterday.
That money will allow Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez to finally pursue the Venezuala international, who has a £16.5m release clause. It is understood Albion would also be keen on a player-plus-cash deal involving Dwight Gayle.
Yet as of last night, Gayle remained on Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Portugal and any deal appears at least a little way off.
Defender Dawson is another player whose future is set to be resolved before the transfer window closes on August 9.
The 28-year-old has been the subject of a joint £25million bid from Burnley which would have also seen striker Jay Rodriguez move to Turf Moor.
Albion have since slapped a £20m price tag on both players and are refusing to budge. Alfie Mawson’s proposed move from Swansea to Fulham, for an initial £15m fee rising to £20m, is seen as further proof they have valued Dawson correctly.
The former Rochdale man missed Saturday’s 5-2 friendly win over Coventry with a thigh strain but is expected to resume training this week. Reports Dawson has been training away from the club are understood to be wide of the mark.
Boss Darren Moore is aiming to finalise his backroom team by the end of the week. An agreement which will see Belgium coach Graeme Jones become Baggies assistant boss is close to being reached.
Wayne Jacobs, who has been helping Moore out in an informal role since he became caretaker boss, is also set to be officially confirmed on the staff in a part-time position.
