[Salopbaggie]

Just looking at this Rondon, he looks very much a Kevin Phillips sort of player (right place right time). My only concern was the level of defending in quite a few of the goals on Youtube, I don't think he would not get a quarter of those chances in the Premiership.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_BDgcL8VU4

[wba_1996]

Last season I was over the moon when we signed Ideye as I thought, and still think he could be a big player for us.

However, IF we pull off the signing of Rondon we have bagged ourselves, imo, one of the top 20 strikers in world football. The guy is a class act, I've seen him play a bit for Zenit in the Champions League and also whenever Malaga were shown on Sky Sports when he was breaking through as a 21/22 year old. He is 6'3", built like a brick sh*thouse, an animal in the air with a lethal shot - not too slow either for a big guy. Great goalscoring record at both club and international level to boot. Right up Pulis' street.

He is a player I have been wanting to see in the PL for a while now as he suits it down to the ground, but I thought it would be with someone like Liverpool - not us

As for Gnabry, what a signing for the season he is! Potential world class talent and gives us much needed pace and trickery down the wings.

Hopefully our patience in the window is finally paying off, after being jealous of the teams around us earlier in the summer we are now the ones making the signings other teams' fans are envious of. Our strikeforce could potentially be the best outside of the top 6. I just hope this doesn't mean Saido is off to balance the books

---

Just looking at this Rondon, he looks very much a Kevin Phillips sort of player (right place right time).  My only concern was the level of defending in quite a few of the goals on Youtube, I don't think he would not get a quarter of those chances in the Premiership.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_BDgcL8VU4

That's always a worry when signing players from a weaker league, but I spotted goals against PSV, Ajax, Sevilla and Brazil in that video. The general reaction to the news of the medical from neutrals is "why is he going to West Brom?" which I think says a lot. I'm praying this deal gets completed.

[WBA-Josh]

We have got to hope that he settles in because he will be a big player for us if he does.

Last season he was 2nd choice striker behind Kerzhakov which is why he had a lower amount of appearances and goals than would be expected. He scored 27 goals in 72 appearances for Malaga, 28 in 57 appearances for Zenit, 25 in 56 appearances for Rubin Kazan and 12 in 47 appearances for Las Palmas.

This season is starting to look more brighter now. 

[Slick_Footwork]

Funnily enough, I was watching the Copa in the summer and thought that Rondon would be
the ideal striker for Pulis.

Will be chuffed IF we pull this off AND Saido stays.

If he's being bought as a replacement for Saido, it's one step forward and two steps back. If he's
being bought to play alongside him - then we'll have a top strike force.

That said, not holding my breath on us completing the deal yet...

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

The general reaction to the news of the medical from neutrals is "why is he going to West Brom?" which I think says a lot.

To be fair, the general reaction from me is "why is he coming to West Brom?"

Fingers crossed though

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Okay, Baggie79's just shared a few thoughts on the situation; sounds like the Rondon deal's been leaked to the press earlier than the club would have liked, and although we'd nearly got it over the line, there's now a chance of the rug being pulled out from under us:


"There is a huge difference between agents contacting clubs to say he is available and it becoming public knowledge we have agreed a fee. Other clubs may have been aware of his availability and thought they would wait until the end of the window, this was 99% done and the club were doing everything they could to keep it under wraps. Now its public knowledge other teams will have to move now or never and to be fair everyone is looking for a proven CL player for £15m.

Fee agreed and wages but to be fair I really worry now about the delay. People think its great to be linked with players and they moan if nothings in the press but this is the consequence of when things become public knowledge."

---

And furthermore: "Will he sign for us? Yes, I think he will, but this [leaked story] doesn't help at all. He hasn't passed a medical yet so I would imagine it will be Monday [announcement] at the earliest."

[Stairs]

The general reaction to the news of the medical from neutrals is "why is he going to West Brom?" which I think says a lot.

To be fair, the general reaction from me is "why is he coming to West Brom?"

Fingers crossed though

---

Okay, Baggie79's just shared a few thoughts on the situation; sounds like the Rondon deal's been leaked to the press earlier than the club would have liked, and although we'd nearly got it over the line, there's now a chance of the rug being pulled out from under us:


"There is a huge difference between agents contacting clubs to say he is available and it becoming public knowledge we have agreed a fee. Other clubs may have been aware of his availability and thought they would wait until the end of the window, this was 99% done and the club were doing everything they could to keep it under wraps. Now its public knowledge other teams will have to move now or never and to be fair everyone is looking for a proven CL player for £15m.

Fee agreed and wages but to be fair I really worry now about the delay. People think its great to be linked with players and they moan if nothings in the press but this is the consequence of when things become public knowledge."

---

And furthermore: "Will he sign for us?  Yes, I think he will, but this [leaked story] doesn't help at all.  He hasn't passed a medical yet so I would imagine it will be Monday [announcement] at the earliest."

Further proof that we need to do our business away from the public eye and those that complain about lack of activity are not appreciative of the complexity involved for mid table clubs 

[May68]

Generally I've found that players tend to sign for us within a day or so of rumours being leaked, as the club seem to be pretty good at keeping things under wraps. The ones we never end up signing are the ones we are linked with for weeks on end. If this deal doesn't get done imminently I'm not going to hold out any hopes.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

But wait! Perhaps renewed cause for optimism: "£13.5m is the fee, could be announced as early as tomorrow all being well. Sorry for the confusion but things change minute to minute."

[silverbaggie]

Is there any danger that his transfer could get held up as a permit might be required.

He's not European and I don't know whether Zenit St Petersberg are regarded as European either.

The article doesn't mention any appearances for his Country but, I assume Venezuela are ranked in the top 100 .

[WBA-Josh]

Is there any danger that his transfer could get held up as a permit might be required.

He's not European and I don't know whether Zenit St Petersberg are regarded as European either.

The article doesn't mention any appearances for his Country but, I assume Venezuela are ranked in the top 100 .

I don't know anything about work permits but if it helps Zenit St Petersburg is a Russian team so is European and Venezuela are currently ranked at number 45 in the world. Rondon has played 42 times for them since his debut in 2008.