West Bromwich Albion are struggling at the moment and following another disappointing loss this weekend Steve Bruce will be feeling the pressure from above.
His side have looked decidedly toothless in recent games and have won just once in 11 Championship games. As a result, they are wallowing in 21st place.
He would love to have a firing striker too, as combined Karlan Grant and Brandon Thomas-Asante have scored just once since game week eight.
One man who would do the business for them was a prime Salomon Rondon, whose spell at the Hawthorns before leaving for a minor profit was a rather topsy-turvy one.
He was signed for a club record £12m in 2015 and featured 120 times for the Baggies. Just 28 goals belie his importance for his side, as he was a fruitful target man for the period he spent in the Midlands.
The 33-year-old then left for China, with Dalian Yifang keen on adding the Venezuelan to their squad. They reportedly had to meet his £16.5m release clause, and for West Brom, this represented fine value.
They made a profit after squeezing four solid years from the forward, while the fact that he has never really impressed since leaving will make the deal feel even sweeter.
His return to the Premier League came when Rafa Benitez sought to add him to his Everton squad, and although he arrived on a free his CIES Football Observatory value has remained at just €3m (£2.6m).
For the Toffees he has only three goals in 29 appearances and has struggled with fitness and subsequent limited game time.
He has been “disappointing” in the words of journalist James Nalton, who also claimed that he has “offered very little” since signing in 2021.
The fact that West Brom sold when they did, and have witnessed his steady decline following, is what will make this deal seem like they hit the jackpot.
He has seemingly lost the raw physicality and explosiveness that made him a bit of a cult hero at the Hawthorns, but what Bruce wouldn’t do to have him back now in his prime to help fire them out of their current mess.
It will remain a fine piece of business regardless, as the club benefitted from his goals as well as financially following his exit.
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