Newcastle have sent rivals Stoke City a clear message about their pursuit of striker Dwight Gayle which will hand the Potters a transfer bombshell, according to the Newcastle Chronicle.
The newspaper reports on their website that boss Rafa Benitez has no interest in selling the 27-year-old unless a suitable replacement arrives at St James’ Park, which is news that will undoubtedly be a bitter blow to Stoke manager Gary Rowett, who is said by the Daily Mail to have tabled a £10million bid .
The forward is said to have no intentions over securing a move away from Tyneside this summer and this has firmly been reinforced by Benitez, who is yet to make an outfield signing in this transfer window, Martin Dubravka the only capture so far.
OPINION
Despite only netting 6 goals in 35 appearances for United last season, Gayle still has lot to prove and will be keen to impress Benitez should he stay on at St James’ Park. He has not played up to his potential and should be lucky that his boss is taking the stance he is – most managers would be willing to let a centre-forward go of whom has only bagged 6 goals in a season. That sort of strike rate is just not good enough for a player like Gayle – Benitez can sign players who have a more prominent goal-scoring ability. If Gayle is one of Benitez’s first choices, then he needs to ask himself some serious questions about where he is taking Newcastle. That being said, the club needs to give him one last chance to redeem himself if he is intent to carry on playing in the Premier League – in order to do that, you have to be top-flight quality.