West Brom technical director Luke Dowling has confirmed that the club will sell striker Salomon Rondon in the summer transfer window, following his impressive loan spell at Newcastle last season.

Rondon scored 12 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies last season, helping the north east side to earn a 13th place finish in the Premier League, something which has caught the attention of a number of sides.

The striker is out of contract at The Hawthorns next summer, meaning the club will look to sell him in the current transfer window in order to receive a fee for him, with Dowling telling The Express and Star: "We're quite happy to say that we will sell Salomon.

"We don't want a player that's had a season like that staying around with us and then walking away on a Bosman.

"Salomon has had the taste of Newcastle. He went back to a Premier League club and if he stays in England that's where he wants to be."

It was confirmed on Monday that manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle this summer, but that does not appear to have affected their interest in bringing Rondon back to St James' Park, as Dowling claimed: "As we understand it Newcastle still have an interest in Salomon."

Newcastle's Premier League rivals Wolves are also said to be interested in Rondon, but Dowling revealed that interest in the Venezuelan is not limited to the Premier League, going onto claim: "We're anticipating that as the weeks go on that the offers made for him might get bigger.

"Salomon has a market worldwide so it's not just clubs in this country that are interested."

Earlier this summer, Turkish outlet Ajansspor claimed that Fenerbahce have joined the chase for Rondon, while French publication La Provence have reported that Marseille are monitoring the striker.

The verdict

You can kind of understand West Brom's approach here.

They are in a strong position to make a decent fee out of Rondon this summer, and that is something they will be able to reinvest in the squad in the summer transfer window.

It is also no surprise to hear the claims about the amount of interest there is in Rondon, given the impact he had in an at times struggling Newcastle side last season, who may have been in even more trouble without him.

Even so, it seems strange to hear a club figure talk as openly about his willingness to sell a player with Rondon's profile and ability as Dowling does here.