Player Focus: What Does Rondon's Arrival Mean for Berahino's WBA Future?

West Brom’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City was not the start to the season the Baggies would have wanted. Starting strikers Saido Berahino and Rickie Lambert mustered just two shots between them in the encounter and the lack of goalscoring threat certainly hindered the hosts. While City were resilient and cultivating in equal measure, fans will have been disappointed that West Brom forced Joe Hart into only two saves over the 90 minutes courtesy of James Morrison and substitute Victor Anichebe. 

The disappointing loss was not the best way to kick off the campaign, but fans will have been buoyed by the confirmation of Salomon Rondon’s capture prior to kick off. The Venezuelan has joined from Zenit St. Petersburg for a club-record fee of £12m, though the pressure is on for the striker to succeed from the get go. West Brom spent big to sign Brown Ideye last summer, only for the Nigerian to disappoint at the Hawthorns, the Nigerian netting just 4 goals and gaining a meagre WhoScored rating of 6.36. 

Ideye is now set to depart the club before the close of the transfer window, with Rondon likely to jump to the head of the striking queue in Tony Pulis’ starting XI. The 25-year-old netted a commendable 13 league goals for former side Zenit in the Russian Premier League last season, a figure bettered only by Hulk (15). Pertinently, though, was that 10 of these 13 strikes were deemed clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, a return that was the joint best in Russia’s top tier. 

What this denotes is that Rondon’s positioning in the final third is of an impressive standard, in that he is often in the right place at the right time to hit the back of the net, but also that he can handle the pressure from defenders to score fairly frequently. At 25 years of age, the Venezuela international is still yet to hit his peak, while his physical attributes mean he is suited to the rigours of English football. Meanwhile his European experience should improve West Brom's chances of consolidating a mid-table spot in the Premier League. 

However, while his arrival boosts the attacking options available to Pulis, Rondon’s signing will only heighten speculation linking Berahino with a move away from the Midlands side. The 22-year-old is a reported target for City and Tottenham Hotspur and while West Brom have continuously denied that Berahino is set for a big-money move away, the arrival of Rondon is unlikely to quell suggestions of a summer exit. 

Berahino certainly warrants the attention from the Premier League’s elite, of that there is no doubt. Of all English players, only Harry Kane (21) and Charlie Austin (18) scored more goals in England’s top tier than the youngster (14) last season. However, it’s reasonable to suggest the West Brom frontman is not of the Pulis mould. The Welsh manager prefers his strikers to offer a physical threat in the final third and while Berahino is capable of this, Rondon is able to do so to a much higher standard.  

Berahino (16) may have won possession in the attacking third more times in the league last season than Rondon (15), but that is to be expected given the former made 12 more appearances than the latter. Rondon is evidently a capable performer when it comes to defending from the front having won possession in the attacking third more times (7) than any other player at this summer’s Copa America, despite Venezuela failing to progress from Group C. This will have appealed to Pulis, who demands each of his players perform their defensive responsibilities to the highest standard, regardless of position. 

Supporters can expect similar when Rondon is fully integrated into the West Brom team and has adjusted to English football. However, it still leaves question marks over Berahino’s Baggies future. The arrival of Rickie Lambert is also expected to add fuel to the fire with regards to a possible transfer. The England international recently signed from Liverpool due to a lack of first team action at Anfield and is unlikely to settle for a place on the bench once more following his switch. 

A promise of guaranteed action perhaps convinced Lambert to move to West Brom ahead of other teams, with Pulis expected to continue with the 33-year-old in the starting XI. Following his record move, Rondon is likely to partner Lambert in attack, meaning Berahino could be forced out wide to gain a starting berth. Given his goalscoring return for the club last season, Pulis is understandably keen to keep the young striker at the Hawthorns, but he is a player who deserves regular competitive action in his favoured position, especially at his age if he is to realise his potential. 

While the West Brom manager would prefer to ship Anichebe and Ideye on, Berahino is the more valuable asset and a player who the club can command a top fee for. Despite his impressive form last season, Rondon’s arrival could yet signal the beginning of the end of Berahino’s time with the Midlands club.

What do you think Rondon's arrival means for Berahino's future at West Brom? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below