West Brom striker Salomon Rondon eager to stay in Newcastle

The Albion striker says he has settled in the North East during his season-long loan, and is keen to make it a permanent stay.

Rondon has scored eight times for Rafa Benitez’s team this season, and has been well-received by Newcastle supporters.

He would jump at the opportunity to move there permanently in the summer, ending his four-year association with the Baggies.

Rondon told the Newcastle Chronicle: “They know what I want and what my family want.

“I have spoken with them and made it clear. If there is an opportunity for me to be here – I’ll stay here 100 per cent.

“If not I will say thank you to everybody and see what happens next.”

Rondon’s Albion contract expires in the summer of 2020 after the Baggies triggered a 12-month extension at the start of the season.

In January, Newcastle tried to use Albion’s interest in Jacob Murphy as leverage to extend Rondon’s loan spell for another year, but the Baggies refused.

However, the Venezuelan wants to make his temporary stay a permanent one.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be here and my family are settled and happy to be here.

“I play with the number nine on my back and it’s a pleasure for me.

“When you are a footballer it can be a difficult career but you have to enjoy it and being here is great for me.

“I love being here.

“I’m only on loan so you never know what happens. If I could stay many years here I’d love to. I am settled here.

“If not I will say thank you and wish you all luck for the future.”

Rondon joined Albion from Zenit St Petersburg in 2015 for £12million, and has scored 28 goals in 120 appearances for the Baggies.

His season-long loan swap saw Dwight Gayle come the other way after the Baggies refused to let the Venezuelan leave without getting Gayle in return.

Gayle has since scored 16 goals for Darren Moore’s team, and has the fourth-best goals-per-minute ratio in the Championship this season.

However, he is currently being played as a wide-forward in a front three, which many observers have called into question.

“I don’t like him at all out there,” said former Albion midfielder Keith Andrews. “I said it as soon as he went there.

“He’s one of the best strikers in the division.

“When you give him the right type of service he is lethal, that’s why I don’t like him on the wing.”

Gayle was initially reluctant to leave Newcastle but has enjoyed his time in the Black Country.

He told the Express & Star in November that staying at Albion permanently had ‘crossed his mind’.

The former Crystal Palace striker is out of contract in the summer of 2021, and the Baggies would likely seek to include Gayle in any permanent deal for Rondon.