Rondon deal to be done...
TWO-GOAL SALOMON IS TOAST OF THE TOON – BUT KNOWS HE HAS TO DELIVER THE GOODS AGAIN
the goal. As a striker you have to help the other team-mates with defensive duties.
“Hold up play and winning headers is important. “Ultimately though the most important thing is we get three points and we stay up.” After the game he won praise from Alan Shearer on Match of the Day in a week in which he had also received some advice from Andy Cole at the club’s Foundation dinner.
Rondon said: “Everybody knows about this shirt and the No 9.
“We all know when Alan Shearer and Andy Cole were wearing it.
“The most important thing for me is confidence. That’s what the gaffer brings to me.
“The supporters also give me that confidence and that means I can help the team.”
When I scored my first goal I was really, really happy. I didn’t know how to celebrate the second to be honest! Salomon Rondon
SALOMON Rondon has admitted his future at Newcastle United is firmly in his own hands.
The Venezuela international grabbed his first Premier League goals during the 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth.
And as a result during Rafa Benitez’s post-game Press conference the emphasis instantly swung back to how the Magpies go about keeping the striker.
It is understood that Rondon’s situation at St James’ Park is no more than a season-long loan deal after Newcastle were believed to have paid just a loan fee of around £2million back in August.
Rondon is keen to stay on Tyneside but West Brom have the option of an extra year’s contract for the South American.
They are desperate to recoup a fee for him, given they are struggling with financial problems after relegation last term, but whether they can afford to keep him – especially if they fail to win promotion this season – is another question. In 2015 West Brom paid £12million to Zenit St Petersburg for Rondon and the striker had a £16.5million release clause in his contract earlier this year, although that has now expired.
After scoring twice against the Cherries to open his account, he told the Chronicle: “I know I just have to keep on doing it.”
United will give him every chance to extend his stay beyond this season if he can remain fit, but how much that deal would cost them is yet to be negotiated between West Brom and his agent.
What is for certain is that should Rondon keep scoring goals, Newcastle could be in the box seat to make a permanent deal possible, given that he is starting to settle on Tyneside.
For now, Rondon is very much a United player and he found himself the toast of Tyneside after firing the team to a much-needed win in the Premier League.
He said: “We all just have to keep working and getting the three points.
“Beating Bournemouth was a great moment.”
It was so great in the eyes of Rondon that he celebrated his second goal twice after spinning back round to the crowd again to savour his bullet header.
Rondon added: “It was massive for me.
“When I scored my first goal I was really, really happy.
“I didn’t know how to celebrate the second, to be honest!
“But I went back again for the fans the second time. They deserve it.
“I was waiting for this moment, and now I have finally been able to score goals at St James’ Park.
“I am pleased to be able to bring pleasure to my team-mates. “What can I say about the fans? “Other than they deserved that win.”
Rondon scored a rare 10/10 in the Chronicle’s Monday ratings after his double blast.
He said: “It isn’t just about