It is no secret that Newcastle United's attack needed lacked zest last season as Dwight Gayle and Joselu failed to hit the heights.

Not only that, but loan signing Islam Slimani also failed to impress, which suggests that the club should be looking at recruiting a new attacker in this window.

A handful of names have been linked to the North-East outfit, and West Bromwich Albion's Salomon Rondon is one of them.

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It is believed that Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez is keen for the Venezuelan to replace Aleksander Mitrovic, but a recent report suggests that the club could be about to make a financial blunder.

On Monday, TEAMtalk claimed that rather than meet West Brom's £16.5m release clause, the Magpies want to pay an initial £4m loan fee followed by an additional £15m to secure Rondon's signature permanently next summer.

The forward scored just seven Premier League goals last season before the Baggies were relegated to the Championship, so to pay more than the player's current release clause makes very little sense.

It doesn't take much for Newcastle fans to fume at club owner Mike Ashley due to years of discontent over lack of transfer funds, and this latest news has put the businessman in the firing line yet again.