The West Brom, Newcastle United swap deal that was simply perfect for all parties | OneFootball

The 2018 Newcastle United and West Brom swap deal regarding Dwight Gayle and Salomon Rondon was perfect for all parties

Both Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion participated in the 2017/18 Premier League season, but experienced vastly different outcomes.

The Magpies had won the 2017 Championship title, and subsequently headed into the top-flight campaign knowing that obtaining survival was their primary goal.

However, they were expertly managed by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who guided the North East outfit to a majorly impressive 10th place finish in the Premier League come spring 2018.

Meanwhile, the Baggies finished bottom of the top-flight pile at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, which ended a proud eight-season stint in the Premier League.

But by the summer of 2018, the Magpies and the Baggies had a common goal in the transfer market, as they both wanted to re-shape their respective forward lines, which resulted in the two clubs agreeing to a season-long loan swap deal for strikers Salomon Rondon and Dwight Gayle.

During the aforementioned 2017/18 Premier League season, Rondon failed to score the goals that could have helped the Baggies stave off the threat of relegation.

In fact, he scored just seven goals in 36 top-flight outings that term, while a lack of firepower was a major contributing factor as to why the West Midlands club finished bottom of the league.

Meanwhile, Newcastle's top-half finish came despite the fact that forward Gayle had scored just six goals in 35 Premier League fixtures, which led Benitez to re-think his forward line during the summer of 2018.

Although Rondon had not proven himself as a prolific striker during his Baggies stint, the Magpies were keen on acquiring his services due to his physical presence, whereas West Brom had their hearts set on signing Gayle, who had proven himself as a regular goalscorer at Championship level.

When the Magpies lifted the second tier title in 2017, their silverware-clinching exploits were largely down to the efforts of the former Crystal Palace man, who had notched 23 goals in 39 Championship outings that campaign.

Having seen his impressive goal-getting tendencies during his days in the second tier with the Magpies, the Baggies swooped for their man in an effort to earn immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

Ultimately, the West Midlands side did not achieve promotion to the top-flight at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, but the striker on loan from Newcastle helped them land a play-off spot.

The Magpies also benefited from their side of the deal, as Rondon's form in front of goal was much better in the North East than it had ever been during his time at the Hawthorns.

The Venezuela international notched an impressive return of 11 goals and seven assists in 32 Premier League outings during the 2018/19 campaign, as Benitez's men finished in a comfortable 13th position.

In hindsight, the swap deal for Gayle and Rondon's services was a perfect move by both clubs, who each acquired a striker who would go on to serve them well.

Not only did Gayle arrive at the Hawthorns and make himself an instant favourite among the Baggies faithful by hitting 24 goals in 40 Championship appearances, he also formed a menacing strike partnership with former England international Jay Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was just as dangerous as the man then on loan from Newcastle, as he scored 22 second tier goals that campaign, helping to fire his side to a fourth place finish.

Ultimately, though, the Baggies would lose out in the play-off semi-final stages via a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of West Midlands rivals Aston Villa.

Albion supporters may always wonder how their side did not get promoted following a season in which their club enjoyed the services of such a formidable strike partnership.

However, the success of the Baggies' swap deal with the Magpies cannot be understated, as both clubs pulled off a stroke of genius in the transfer market.