NEWCASTLE UNITED will consider turning Salomon Rondon’s loan into a permanent January deal in order to free up a slot for another temporary transfer in the second half of the season.

Rafael Benitez is determined to overhaul his squad at the turn of the year, with a striker, attacking wide player and left-back at the top of his wanted list.

 

Recent indications suggest Mike Ashley will make funds available when the transfer window reopens, but Benitez could still struggle to make three permanent additions with the budget he is granted.

Atlanta midfielder Miguel Almiron alone could cost up to £25m, with Arsenal having firmed up their interest in the Paraguay international in the last couple of days. Newcastle are also keen on Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek, but the Genoa forward could also command an eight-figure transfer free after scoring nine goals in ten matches following a summer move to Serie A.

Ideally, Benitez would like to supplement any permanent signings with one or two loan additions – Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke would be an appealing short-term option - but as things stand, he cannot make any temporary transfers from clubs in England.

Premier League sides can only name two domestic loan signings in their squad, and Newcastle currently have Kenedy and Rondon on season-long loan deals.

There is no chance of Chelsea agreeing to a permanent transfer for Kenedy, but sources in the Midlands claim West Brom would be willing to consider a permanent deal for Rondon, particularly if Newcastle were willing to allow Dwight Gayle to make a full-time switch in the opposite direction.

The Magpies tried to sign Rondon permanently in the summer, only for Ashley to refuse to pay the £16.5m that would have triggered a release clause in the Venezuelan striker’s contract.

Ashley did not want to pay such a high fee for a player that turned 29 in September, and the sportswear magnate remains opposed in principle to signing players who are approaching their 30s.

However, Rondon has made a positive impact in his last few matches, with his first two goals in a Newcastle shirt securing the 2-1 win over Bournemouth that preceded the international break, and Ashley has been able to witness the South American’s impact from first hand in the St James’ Park directors’ box.

There is now a strong chance that Newcastle officials will initiate a new round of talks with their counterparts at the Hawthorns aimed at agreeing a permanent January deal.

Rondon has made no attempt to hide his desire to secure a full-time move to Tyneside, and significantly, he has moved his family to new base in the North-East. He is contracted to West Brom until 2020, but has no desire to return to the Baggies, even if they were to win promotion to the Premier League this term.

Gayle’s future will also form part of any discussions in the next couple of months, and having been discarded by Benitez in August, the Londoner appears to have concluded that his long-term prospects will be best suited by a permanent move away from the Magpies.

Gayle has scored nine goals in 14 Championship matches this season, and would be receptive to the offer of a permanent switch to West Brom if the financial aspects of the deal met his requirements.