Rafa Benitez is confirmed he is interested in making Salomon Rondon’s loan deal at Newcastle United a permanent one after the Venezuelan scored his first and second league goals for the club on Saturday.
Some fans claim it was "just like watching Les Ferdinand."
Rondon netted twice in the first half, one a bullet header and the other a finish from close range, as the Magpies beat Bournemouth to claim successive wins.
It’s not been the easiest of starts to life on Tyneside for Rondon; injuries have disrupted his time in the North East so far, but the Toon fans have at least enjoyed a glimpse of what he is capable of before the latest international break.
Benitez, of course, needed no such convincing.
The Spaniard was a big fan of Rondon in the summer and was able to arrange a deal with West Bromwich Albion once learning that the Baggies were keen on Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction.
Albion, to date, have certainly benefitted from the move - Gayle has plundered nine goals himself - but Benitez, who will be hopeful that Rondon can bag a few more now that he’s finally off the mark, is eyeing a long-term stay for the striker.
“Now is not the time to talk about that, just enjoy the goals he scored. I have no idea about the terms of the contract, but if he keeps scoring two goals a game, of course,” Benitez told the Northern Echo.
“I don’t know the terms of the contract or when we discuss that. I’m not that interested, if he keeps scoring goals, Lee Charnley will be looking at the terms of the contract and worrying about that.
“We knew about the conditions to sign Rondon, the release clause, and at that price, to get a player with his experience and his level in the Premier League, it is not easy.
“He was the number one target because of the price. I liked the player, I was in contact with his agent and in contact with his agent working on the possibility.
“It was more difficult, but when West Brom were so interested in Dwight Gayle, we knew there was a possibility because we had the second striker with pace and mobility in Yoshinori Muto at the same time. It was a chance to get a second striker with experience of the Premier League."