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Solano urges Newcastle to sign Salomon Rondon on a permanent basis

Newcastle United legend Nobby Solano has urged the club to acquire the services of Salomon Rondon on a permanent basis from West Bromwich Albion at the end of the season. The Venezuela international was recruited from the Baggies on a season-long loan last summer with Dwight Gayle heading to the Hawthorns in a similar kind of deal.

Rondon initially begun his Magpies career in a slow fashion as he was adapting to the club’s style of play but he has since picked up his form to contribute nine goals in the top-flight. In a report covered by The Chronicle, Solano has said that the Magpies must take the opportunity to sign the marksman, even though he has already entered the wrong side of 30.

He added that the Magpies are generally reluctant to spend big on ageing players but they should take the chance, given they may not afford another young striker at the same price, he quipped: “Rondon should be signed. He’s been very good for the team and is top scorer. Newcastle don’t have to spend massive money here. Would they get a top level striker for £16 million if they don’t sign Rondon? The answer is no. Another striker will cost much more.”

West Brom are currently said to want around £16m for Rondon but the Magpies are reluctant to pay more than £12m. As such, they could find themselves beaten to the player’s signature during the summer, considering both Everton and West Ham United are keeping tabs on the proceedings. The Toffees are understood to be eyeing a new striker with Dominic Calvert-Lewin yet to become an effective source when it comes to goalscoring.

On the other hand, West Ham are likewise keen on a regular goal scorer and Rondon’s arrival could spell concerns over the future of Marko Arnautovic. The Austria international penned a new deal with the Hammers earlier in the year, but he remains the subject of interest from the Chinese Super League ahead of the summer.

Rafael Benitez talks about Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has said that the club need to improve across the different departments in the summer in order to compete higher up the table. The Magpies recently sprung a surprise 1-0 result against Leicester City on the road and this has put them in a strong position to beat the Premier League drop.

Speaking after the game, Benitez said that the Magpies are not capable of competing for the Premier League crown with the reduced budget on offer. However, the Spaniard added that he would like sufficient fees during the summer which would enhance the club’s prospects of finishing as the best of the rest.

He said: “I have been trying to win titles everywhere in different countries and what I have said before is we have to have a team that can compete. So you cannot go with a team that maybe you can win but you think ‘If it’s a draw it’s a good result’. We need to be stronger. You have the city, we have all the potential. Everyone in Newcastle is supporting the team so it’s massive. Doing a little bit – I don’t say spending £200M – I say a little bit more, doing the right things we can compete against the teams who are between 7th and 12th but we have to do things right.”

At present, Benitez is contracted with the Magpies until the end of the season but he has confirmed that talks are already underway over a contract extension. The lack of spending in the transfer market has been a cause for concern for Benitez in the past, but owner Mike Ashley has shown better intent of late with the club-record signing of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United in January. More of the same for the summer could convince Benitez to pen an extension with the Tyneside outfit. Newcastle are currently 10 points ahead of the drop zone. They are scheduled to host Southampton at St James Park this weekend.

Rafael Benitez hails Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has praised the impact of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon upfront during the 3-2 comeback win over Everton in the Premier League. The Magpies found themselves 2-0 down to Everton after the first-half interval but they made a tremendous comeback following the break with a brace from Ayoze Perez and a Salomon Rondon strike ensuring maximum points.

Speaking after the game, Benitez was full of praise for both Perez and Rondon, and was pleased with the stunning comeback after a 2-0 deficit before the break, he said: “The first goal – if Messi did this – people would be talking about that for a while. He [Perez] did really well. If Alan Shearer scored the goal Rondon did it would be talked about for a long time.

“Normally I say to the players stay calm at half time, score one goal and get back into the game. In the first half we had chances to score but they scored two goals. We changed the shape of the team – with Ritchie on the right and four at the back. We were winning more second balls in the second half. The players deserve to win these five games [in a row at home].”

With the victory, the Magpies secured their fifth successive triumph at St James Park and the result has helped them maintain the six-point gap over the drop zone. The Magpies have only two more home games before the close of the campaign but they would nonetheless be confident of beating the drop, given five of their last eight games are against teams in the bottom half of the table.

Despite the positive, there remain question marks regarding the future of Benitez, who has been left disappointed with the restricted spending over the years. The Spanish tactician is on course to keep the Magpies in the Premier League for the second season running, but he may need assurances of more recruitment before he pens a new contract beyond the summer.

Rafael Benitez pleased with Miguel Almiron’s full debut for Newcastle United

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has spoken positively about Miguel Almiron after the attacker dazzled during the club’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town this weekend. The Paraguay international made his full debut against the Terriers and he put on a show which earned him the praise of the club’s faithful.

Almiron could not contribute towards the club’s scoresheet on the day but he was still praised by the supporters after orchestrating the attack with as many as three shots on target. Following the game, Benitez was impressed with the showing of the club’s winter signing and sympathised that the forward could not score his maiden goal.

He said: “He did well. Obviously he’s a different kind of player with different characteristics and he is giving us another option so if you have to change something, you can make the difference with one player or another player, so it has been positive. It was a pity for him because he could have scored and it would have been even better. Yesterday when you were asking me, I knew that he was playing! I wanted to make a headline!”

The Magpies squandered a 1-0 advantage against Wolverhampton Wanderers during stoppage time in the previous gameweek and that certainly frustrated Benitez with the team fighting to beat the drop. However, there were no such concerns against free-falling Huddersfield for the weekend and goals from Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez ensured a routine triumph against an opposition, who were down to 10 men after just 20 minutes.

Next up, the Tyneside outfit have another home game against Burnley in midweek but the game should pose a stiffer challenge, given the form of the Clarets. Sean Dyche’s team are unbeaten in the Premier League since the turn of the year and the Magpies can expect strong opposition with Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes in good run of form.

Rafael Benitez blames goalkeeper after Newcastle United drop points against Wolves

Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has partly placed the blame on goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after the Magpies failed to secure the maximum points against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux. The Tynesiders appeared primed to bag a 1-0 victory heading into injury time before Dubravka’s poor judgement saw Willy Boly pounce with the equaliser with seconds left on the clock.

Shortly after the final whistle, Benitez was fuming at the officials after what he had judged as a foul on his shot-stopper but in his press conference, the Spaniard put more of the blame on Dubravka, who should have punched the ball rather than trying to get hold of it, he told Sky Sports: “Everybody knew we had the three points and it was really disappointing to concede the way we conceded.

“They were pushing, and we could do better. With this kind of ball, you can do a little bit better – just punch the ball and finish. It was not very clear [if it was a foul], watching the replay, but we have to defend better. We know it is England and people will come against the keeper. You have to be strong enough.”

With the stalemate, the Magpies have moved one point clear of the bottom three but things could have been quite different, had Dubravka made a better judgement over the cross leading to Wolves’ leveller. Newcastle now have a free weekend with them already ousted from the FA Cup but thereafter they have a home game against Huddersfield Town where they should fancy their chances of maximum points. The Terriers are currently rock bottom of the standings without any momentum and the Magpies should be aiming to pounce on the opponents’ struggles to jump further away from the relegation places. Rafael Benitez’s side have won their past two home matches including the shock 2-1 triumph over Premier League holders Manchester City.

Gary Neville sad with Newcastle United’s current situation

Manchester United legend-turned-pundit Gary Neville has admitted that he is sad with the situation around Newcastle United. The Magpies are facing another relegation battle on their hands with just two points separating them from the drop zone and Neville believes such a situation should not be happening with a club of that stature.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:”This is such a special place for football. This stadium is absolutely incredible and the idea that ‘it’s a miracle if we stay up’ this feeling that Newcastle are in this position, I cannot help but feel sad when I come up here. I shouldn’t feel like that when I come here because every club makes its own bed. They should be a club on the front foot all the time that dreams because every time you came up here in the mid-’90s, late ’90s, it was unbelievable.”

When the Magpies returned to the Premier League last season, there had been the expectation that owner Mike Ashley could go on a spending spree to enhance the club’s prospects of competing at the top half of the table. However, nothing of that sort has happened over the past 18 months and due to this, Benitez has recently admitted that it may take a miracle for the Magpies to beat the drop for the second successive campaign.

Newcastle’s recent league meeting against Manchester United saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat and the result could be the beginning of another tough run for the Magpies, given they are scheduled to face Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in three of the next four matches. The only league game sandwiched between them is up against Cardiff City and that game should prove crucial to their prospects of avoiding the relegation to the Championship. Before all this, they have an FA Cup third round game against Blackburn Rovers scheduled for the weekend.

Newcastle United boss expresses frustration after Wolves defeat

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has suggested that the upcoming matches against Huddersfield Town and Fulham are crucial to the club’s survival hopes after the disappointing defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. The Magpies appeared on course to secure a 1-1 draw against the Wolves in the previous matchday but their ambition was shattered in the dying minutes of the game with Matt Doherty netting a 94th-minute winner for Nuno’s men.

Speaking in a news conference, Benitez said that his team are no longer favourites against teams around them on the table and has urged the players to work hard to secure victories against the likes of Huddersfield and Fulham, he said:“Since the last two windows, I don’t think we are favourites against anyone. Am I confident we can beat anyone? Yes – but still we have to work hard to do it.For us, every game is like a final. We have to approach every game thinking one point could make a massive difference. That is why I was so upset against Wolves. It makes it so much more difficult for us when you have these decisions. The next two games are massive.”

Newcastle have made genuine progress from the opening 10 matches where they were rooted to the drop zone and they are now three points ahead of the bottom three. Nonetheless, they can’t be overconfident with the recent upturn in form as defeats against Huddersfield and Fulham to follow could potentially drop them back into the dreaded drop.

The Magpies are currently the joint-second worst scorers in the division with just 13 goals from the opening 16 matches but there has been some positive outlook upfront with Salomon Rondon getting onto the scoresheet with better success of late. The Venezuelan has contributed three goals and an assists during the previous five matches for the team.

Salomon Rondon open to permanent Newcastle United stay

On-loan Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon has stated that he is already settled in Tyneside and he could fancy extending his stay beyond the current campaign. The Venezuela international joined the Magpies from West Bromwich Albion in a loan swap involving Dwight Gayle heading the other way and he has since not made the best of his starts with Rafael Benitez’ side.

One part of his struggle has come about from the fitness concerns during the early part of the season but he recently made amends after scoring both goals of the Magpies’ 2-1 triumph over Bournemouth at St James Park. Speaking shortly after that game, Rondon has highlighted that he is settled with his family in the North-East while hinting the prospect of a long-term stay.
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Jamaal Lascelles reveals his commitment towards Newcastle United

Jamaal Lascelles has said that he remains committed to Newcastle United irrespective of whether they are relegated from the Premier League. The central defender captained the side to a 10th-place finish in the top-flight last season but they are facing a tougher test this time around after failing to win any of their opening 10 matches.

Speaking to reporters, Lascelles was asked whether he would seek fresh pastures elsewhere, should the Magpies be relegated to which he replied:“Would I leave? No. I’d be here. I’m part of this team. If we were to get relegated, I would have been part of that team and I would want to be part of the team that gets promoted.
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Rafael Benitez admits disappointment after Manchester United defeat

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that it is difficult to take after his side suffered a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday. The Magpies shocked the Old Trafford faithful after they picked up a 2-0 lead in the Premier League game after just 10 minutes but they went into the break holding a well-deserved lead.

However, following the interval, United begun to exhibit their dominance and they eventually sealed a sensational comeback with Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, and Alexis Sanchez scoring in the final 20 minutes of the match. Following the game, Benitez admitted his disappointment saying: “It is difficult to take because we did so well.
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