Former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon is signing for CSKA Moscow on loan for the season after a return to the Premier League fell through.
The 31-year old is at Dalian Professional in China but, with their league still suspended due to covid, Rondon has been looking for a club at which to play.
Rondon’s availability meant he had tentative interest from Premier League sides Tottenham and West Brom last month but deals ultimately failed to materialise.
Tottenham wanted cover in case Harry Kane’s ankle injuries had proved worse while West Brom were keen but were already in the late stages of talks for Galatasaray’s Mbaye Diagne.
Venezuela international Rondon still has two years on contract with Dalian but his move to CSKA will alert Premier League sides that he could be open to another move in the summer.
Rondon will now link up with CSKA in Alicante, Spain where they are holding their winter training camp.
The striker has previously had success in Russia playing for Rubin Kazan and Zenit where he secured a league winners' medal in 2015.
‘I’m really excited about this new chapter in my career,’ said Rondon.
CSKA are second in the league and four points behind the leaders Zenit.
‘It's an honour for me to be joining CSKA Moscow, a great club with a rich history. I head into this new chapter in my career with real excitement. I'm raring to get out on the pitch and repay the faith that's been shown in me and be back and playing in a competition of the standard of the Russian Premier League,’ added the forward.
In his last season at Dalian, he notched nine of the team's 18 league goals and claimed four assists to become one the division's stand-out performers.