Transfer Talk:
Salomon Rondon has been in the news recently but not particularly for good reasons. In his recent visit to the blue half of Merseyside, Rondon attempted a powerful shot, which caused a double leg break to James McCarthy. However, in a surprising turn of events, Rondon is now linked with a move to Sam Allardyce’s team.
Apparently, the gaffer is keen on landing the target-man as he is seeking more reinforcements in attack. ‘Big Sam’ has been given the liberty to pursue his transfer targets. This has seen Everton bringing in Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott this month. Rondon has been off-colour at West Brom and with the team currently fighting a relegation battle, this move could actually materialize soon.
Rondon & The Numbers:
Salomon Rondon has undergone quite a busy career as he has played for teams across Europe. He made his professional debut at the age of 17 in the Venezuelan Primera Division. After debuting with Aragua FC, he moved to Spain and played for Las Palmas. Rondon then moved across to play for Malaga FC and spent some years playing for Rubin Kazan in the Russian Premier League.
The Venezuelan international got his first big break after he completed a transfer to West Brom in 2015. The Baggies had signed him for a club record fee of 12 million pounds and Rondon was expected to propel the team to greater success.
Since then though, he has scored just 23 goals in 111 appearances in all competitions. Rondon possesses some fine qualities, as he has a strong built and can dominate the defenders inside the box. However, his finishing and the tendency to fade out of games have not served the team well.
This season too, he has appeared 22 times in the league whilst managing to score just three goals. He has created 11 goal-scoring chances, though, just one of that has resulted in an assist. Despite being 28, the striker still lacks the finishing touch in his game.
Do Everton really need him?
Rondon is essentially a forward and does not have the versatility to play across the attacking front line. Everton signed Cenk Tosun for a huge fee in January and the Turk plays in the same position. The manager sees him as the first choice forward and Rondon will find it difficult to replace him. Theo Walcott, who has explosive pace and can run behind the defenders on a regular basis, has also played as a centre-forward in the past.
Captain Wayne Rooney is also a potent threat when he plays up front. With as many as three options available in the squad, it is unnecessary to make a move for Rondon. Additionally, West Brom want to avoid relegation and it would be foolish to let go of their primary striker in the midst of the season.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
