Newcastle United supporters have suffered for more than a decade under Mike Ashley's ownership, and it's about time the controversial figurehead rewarded the supporters with a signing to get genuinely excited about.

It's clear from Newcastle's lack of activity in the transfer market that nothing has changed on Tyneside: Ashley remains as tight-fisted as ever and the season ahead looks bleak without sufficient funding to compete with the rest of the division in the transfer market.

However, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel for Newcastle supporters, or another invevitable disappointment waiting to happen, depending on your opinion of Solomon Rondon.

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle are hoping to conclude a deal for Rondon next week in a transfer worth a potential £16.5 million, despite the fact he spearheaded a toothless West Bromwich Albion attack last season in which they were ultimately relegated from the top-flight.

That particular deal hinges on whether Newcastle are able to conclude Aleksandar Mitrovic's £20 million sale to Fulham, which is already a questionable decision considering the Serbian's red-hot form in the Championship last season.

However, the fact that Ashley is set to finance a deal for a striker who has never been prolific in the Premier League and offers little more than an exemplary work-rate in the final-third is another torrid tale of the supporters being let down by the club's hierarchy.

Newcastle need to be much shrewder with their acquisitions if they wish to assemble a squad capable of maintaining their top-flight status for the long-term and, with that being said, Ashley and Benitez must end their interest in Rondon and instead turn their attention towards Arsenal's Lucas Perez.

The Spanish forward may have struggled to make a name for himself in North London, but he impressed on his temporary return to Deportivo La Coruna last season by notching 9 goals and providing 8 assists from 29 appearances at the spearhead of their attack.

By providing more than a goal every other game Perez proved that he has the clinical edge to make a difference in the final-third, which is far more than Rondon can offer the club.

A recent report from The Times detailing the transfer strategy of some of the Premier League's top clubs states that Perez is surplus to requirements at the club this summer, and if that proves to be true Newcastle would be foolish not to capitalise on his availability.

Newcastle fans - thoughts? Let us know below!