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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

West Ham United have tabled a bid for West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon, per the Daily Star.

What’s the word?

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The report states that the Baggies have rejected the Hammers’ opening offer, worth £10m plus two players – Sam Byram and Jordan Hugill.

The move was designed to capitalise on the uncertainty at Newcastle United, with whom Rondon spent the 2018/19 season.

Indeed, the Magpies confirmed on Monday that Rafael Benitez will be leaving the club, placing into doubt their transfer activity this summer.

Rondon has a £16.5m release clause in his contract after the Baggies failed to win promotion to the Premier League, per the Northern Echo.

Football FanCast sources confirmed at the beginning of the summer window that manager Manuel Pellegrini was given a transfer budget of £30m plus whatever he can raise in player sales; £24m of that has already been spent on attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals.

Cheap as chips

Rondon’s release clause makes him an attainable target for the Hammers.

It is not difficult to imagine the club being able to raise around £10m to secure the signing of the forward, particularly if their budget does now stand at around £6m, plus sales.

The first offer, really, is an insult to the Baggies; Rondon has Premier League experience and scored 11 goals in the top-flight in 2018/19, while registering seven assists.

West Ham will have to go a long way to find a striker with such pedigree for such a cheap fee.

They need to stop dallying, then, and find a way to trigger the clause.