Transfer Round-Up: Newcastle in Rondon loan proposal, Sunderland bid for Eisa, Wyke and Evans, West Brom interested in Boro striker

Newcastle’s interest in West Brom striker Salomon Rondon has been well known for a number of weeks now, but Mike Ashley has been reluctant to splash out more than £20m on a package for the striker.

Rondon has a £16.5m release clause in his contract, but once wages over the course of a long-term deal are factored into the equation, Newcastle would be committing more than £20m to the purchase of the striker, who turns 29 in September, if they were to complete a permanent deal now.

Therefore, a potential compromise has emerged, which would see Newcastle pay a £4m loan fee to sign Rondon for the forthcoming season, with a view to paying a further £15m if they opt to complete a permanent transfer next summer.

The deal would suit the Magpies, as it would spread the cost of their payment for Rondon and effectively enable them to take the Venezuela international on a year-long trial, but it remains to be seen whether it is acceptable to the West Brom board.

The Baggies need to trim their wage bill considerably in the wake of last season’s relegation to the Championship, but Newcastle’s proposal could mean Rondon returns to them next summer if he fails to impress at St James’ Park. At this stage, it is uncertain whether the West Brom hierarchy will deem that to be acceptable.

Newcastle have also held discussions with Stoke City over Matt Ritchie, with the Potters still interested in a possible £15m deal for the winger.

However, Rafael Benitez will only sanction Ritchie’s departure if a cast-iron replacement is in place, with Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend still his preferred option.

SUNDERLAND

Sunderland are mounting a three-pronged attack as Jack Ross attempts to make further progress in the transfer market ahead of this evening’s friendly at Grimsby Town.

The Black Cats lodged £1.6m worth of offers last night, bidding £1m for Cheltenham Town striker Mohamed Eisa and £600,000 for Bradford City forward Charlie Wyke.

Both bids are slightly below the prices that were being demanded by the selling clubs, but Sunderland officials remain hopeful they will be accepted.

Eisa has also been the subject of strong interest from Portsmouth and Peterborough United, but Sunderland’s bid for the Sudanese 24-year-old is understood to feature the biggest up-front payment.

Similarly, while Bolton Wanderers head a long list of clubs interested in Wyke, Sunderland are confident their financial package will be attractive to both the player and his employers at Bradford.

The Bantams have offered Wyke a new contract, with the former Middlesbrough trainee having entered the final year of his current deal, but it looks extremely unlikely that they will be able to keep one of their prize assets at Valley Parade.

Sunderland are also hoping to seal a deal for Reading midfielder George Evans, with a £250,000 transfer for the 23-year-old in the offing.

Evans travelled to Austria with the rest of Reading’s first-team squad for a pre-season training camp, but Sunderland officials are hoping he will be given permission to head to Wearside to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.

A high-profile exit should be confirmed today, with Wahbi Khazri set to complete his move to French club St Etienne for a fee of £6m, which could rise to £9m if a series of clauses are met.

Talks remain ongoing about Didier Ndong and Bryan Oviedo, with the want-away duo both having lined up potential moves overseas.

MIDDLESBROUGH

West Brom are resigned to losing Salomon Rondon this summer – as explained above, the striker could move to Newcastle United – and Baggies boss Darren Moore is considering Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga as a possible replacement.

Assombalonga is expected to leave Teesside this summer, with Tony Pulis always having been somewhat sceptical of his attacking capabilities.

The pair clashed during Boro’s recent pre-season tour of Austria, and while they quickly resolved their differences and moved on, both Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede have played a much more prominent role in the Teessiders’ pre-season programme than Assombalonga.

Having shelled out a club-record fee to sign Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest, Boro will not be allowing the striker to leave on the cheap.

Nevertheless, they will be willing to listen to sensible offers for his services, and West Brom’s potential interest is an interesting development with the transfer deadline now just a little over three weeks away.

Boro have an interest in Matt Phillips, and there is the potential for the West Brom winger to be included a potential deal for Assombalonga.

There were two loan departures from Boro yesterday with George Miller signing a season-long loan at League One side Bradford City and 22-year-old forward Luke Armstrong joining Gateshead on a loan deal of his own.

OTHER CLUBS

Manchester United could reportedly miss out on landing Gareth Bale this summer.

The Guardian reports that the 29-year-old is set to stay at Real Madrid to become Cristiano Ronaldo's successor as the team's talisman.

The Welshman is expecting positive talks with new coach Julen Lopetegui in the next few weeks, the paper adds.

Meanwhile, United are looking to splash out £92m for Croatia World Cup wingers Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic, according to reports.

The Sun says Inter Milan's Perisic, was has long been admired by United boss Jose Mourinho, has been linked with a £48m move to Old Trafford, while Rebic, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, has also made it onto Mourinho's radar.

Rebic could cost the club as much as £44m, the paper adds, with Arsenal also said to be interested in the 24-year-old.

Juventus full-back Alex Sandro appears set to snub the Premier League despite having been linked to both Manchester United and Chelsea, the Daily Mirror reports.

The paper says claims in France suggest the 27-year-old has agreed terms with Paris St Germain over a summer move, with a four-year deal in the pipeline.

Chelsea are plotting a £53m swoop for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to the Evening Standard.

New boss Maurizio Sarri is keeping tabs on Serie A, the paper adds, with sources in Italy suggesting officials will be meeting with Higuain's representatives this week.

The paper adds that reports in Italy also suggest the club are closing in on another Juventus player, defender Daniele Rugani.

Meanwhile, Arsenal players Danny Welbeck and David Ospina are facing uncertain futures as they return from the World Cup, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The Gunners are looking to trim their squad, the paper says, with new coach Unai Emery having spent about £70m on five senior signings to strengthen their defence.

The arrival of Bernd Leno could signal uncertainty for Ospina, while Welbeck is facing a struggle for selection.