West Brom set to make transfer splash with record-fee front man
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West Brom could have a brand new strike force to call on this season, as Tony Pulis closes in on adding another goal getter to his squad this transfer window.
The Welshman has already signed Rickie Lambert from Liverpool, but is close to sealing a club-record deal for Zenit St Petersburg striker Salomon Rondon according to Sky Sports’ famous sources.
£15m is the fee reportedly being discussed between the two clubs and Sky even go as far as to say the 25-year-old has both passed his medical and agreed personal terms with the Midlands outfit.
The Venezuelan scored 20 times in 37 appearances for his Russian club last season, helping Andre Villas-Boas’ side claim the league title.
12 of those strikes came in the Premier League, but despite those impressive returns it is the player’s lack of starts that could see him move to England.
Rondon is behind Brazilian star Hulk in the pecking order in Russia, and made just 16 starts for his Portuguese manager in the top-flight last season.
There would be no danger of the former Malaga man spending too much time on Pulis’ bench, as the cap-wearing tactician looks to overhaul his personnel in the final third.
Lambert has already arrived for £3m from Merseyside, while reports suggest expensive mistake Brown Ideye is available to be sold.
Saido Berahino remains a transfer-rumour regular too, and Rondon’s arrival could be a sign that the England U21 international is about to be on the move.
Pulis’ men are rated at 9/2 to get an opening-game win against Manchester City on Monday Night, with Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors made the 4/6 favourites.
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