West Brom resist Rondon bids, eye new striker

Rob McCarthy
Salomon Rondon: Leads the line at The Hawthorns

Salomon Rondon: Leads the line at The Hawthorns

West Brom chairman John Williams has confirmed that the Baggies are in the market for a new centre-forward, while they have also resisted attempts from China to sign Salomon Rondon.

Rondon had been strongly linked with a potential switch to the Chinese Super League, where the transfer window shuts on Tuesday February 28, but Williams was adamant that his star striker would not be sold “at any price”.

Following Saido Berahino’s exit to Stoke, Tony Pulis is left with only Rondon and Hal Robson-Kanu as his central attacking options and Williams admits that is an area of the squad that needs looking at in the summer.

“We would like another striker in the club,” the Baggies chief told the Birmingham Mail. “Did we try really hard to get a striker in January, no.

“One of the problems with getting a striker is, look at the situation with Salomon and Hal, if we go out and buy a £20 milliion striker which we may well do. I’m not saying we won’t.

“I don’t see us playing 4-4-2 in the conventional sense, that’s not really my job, but the board needs a strategic overview.

“I’m not saying this club will never play 4-4-2. On the opening day of the season we beat Crystal Palace with a 4-4-2.

“But right now, if we were to buy a No.9 as opposed to a 10, for £25 million in the summer, who’s going to play then?

“The new man or Salomon? Who has hopefully got into double figures and had a good season.

“Is that the best use of resources?”