West Brom have activated a 12-month extension in the contract of Salomon Rondon, meaning he will not be a free agent next summer.
The Venezuelan striker - currently on loan at Newcastle - is now tied to the West Midlands club until 2020.
Rondon's £16.5million release clause is also no longer active and, should the Magpies wish to make permanent his stay beyond this season, a fee will have to be negotiated.
The situation is complicated slightly by Dwight Gayle's loan move in the opposite direction and it could yet be that a swap deal is arranged.
But if Rondon is a success under Rafa Benitez at St James' Park there is nothing to stop the Baggies demanding more than the £16.5m he was available for during the close-season.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was reluctant to invest that amount in a 28-year-old, especially as Benitez has so far refused to sign an extension to his own contract which has less than 12 months to run.
Pinocchio
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Clever business. Didn't know you could remove a release clause by triggering an extension
Kennethw
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He can't score on the field, be known as the nearly man. Just check his scoring record in Spain and Russia.
Edgarderek
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Pointless messing with Mike Ashley. The guy won't pay it, simple as that.
likee
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That's all good and well, but no one will pay that. This guy gets 4 a season
Mkuchu
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The release clause expired at the end of July, the contract extension was triggered by Rondon meeting certain criteria and WBA then decided to exercise their rights in deciding to extend his contract. Two entirely separate happenings