We have been linked with a number of forwards this summer, and the latest in a long line is Zenit St Petersburg’s Salomon Rondon, according to Sky Sports. The report claims we are contemplating a £15m move for the Venezuelan, who is currently away on international duty at the Copa America.
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Background:
Rondon has moved around a lot in his career, but has scored goals everywhere he’s gone. Having started out in Aragua back in Venezuela, he broke into the first team at just 17-years-old. He made the switch to Spain two years later, joining UD Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.
The South American forward then spent time at Malaga and Rubin Kazan, before eventually being snapped up by Zenit in January 2014 – where he currently plies his trade.
He hasn’t spent more than two seasons at a club (at senior level) in his entire career, so after a season and a half at Zenit it’s highly possible he is ready to move on.
Position and characteristics:
The 25-year-old is an out and out striker, and is ill suited to being deployed anywhere else on the field. He operates perfectly as the spearhead in Zenit’s 4-3-3 formation, with Hulk and Danny either side of him – complimenting both men superbly.
He is unlikely to ever get us 30 goals a season, but he definitely knows where the back of the net is. He is capable of taking players on, is certainly no slouch, and he has the strength and power to thrive in the Premier League.
Statistics:
As stated, Rondon has shown he is capable of scoring goals wherever he goes. Since his switch to Russia he has managed just under a goal every other game, scoring 25 goals in 56 appearances for Rubin and 28 in 57 for Zenit. His 13 goals in 39 appearances at international level is far less impressive, but with better service it looks as though he would benefit.
He has an excellent conversion rate, with his fantastic record of 22.4% (via talkSPORT) last season the best in the Russian league. The pace and creativity in our side would unquestionably create an abundance of chances for him, and he has shown he has the quality to make the switch to the English top flight.
He would also seemingly fit in with the high-pressing game we so often implement. Playing for a team like Venezuela he is used to playing without the ball, and at the Copa America he has won back possession more times (7) in the final third than any other player in the group stages (via talkSPORT).
Strengths:
Rondon is a real jack of all trades, and excels in a number of areas offensively. He is a proven goalscorer, a fox in the box, and excellent on the ball. His main strength is obviously goalscoring, and goals from the front are something we lacked badly last season.
He also seemingly takes next to no time to adapt and settle in, as he has moved around so frequently in his career. This is hugely important in the Premier League, as it is well known that our league is unlike any other.
Weaknesses:
Link-up play is definitely not Rondon’s biggest strength, and his passing accuracy and assist numbers are downright poor. He relies on service being provided for him rather than providing for others, and is in that sense somewhat one dimensional.
If we want an outright goalscorer then Rondon looks ideal, but it’s hard to see him contributing too much else.
How would he fit in at Liverpool:
We lacked options up front last season, and with Daniel Sturridge’s injury issues we were left in the lurch somewhat. Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert, and Fabio Borini all failed to make the grade, and Brendan Rodgers instead turned to Raheem Sterling.
Rondon would slot straight into the team as our lone striker, and would offer something a little different to our current options. Sturridge and Sterling play in a similar style to wingers in many ways, utilising their pace, coming deep or wide to collect the ball, and creating chances for others as well. Rondon would instead remain central for the most part, and would rely on service from others.
Despite his size and power, he isn’t a target man – so we won’t be seeing another Andy Carroll. He is however a goalscorer, and that is what he would offer us.