Newcastle United are looking for a fee of £15million for the sale of Dwight Gayle this summer but the in demand striker might need convincing to leave St James’ Park, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper claim on their website that the hitman, who spent last summer on loan at West Brom, is wanted by the likes of newly promoted Norwich City and Aston Villa as well as a host of Championship sides after he banged in the goals for the Baggies on their way to a play-off semi final.
However, while the Magpies want in excess of the £10million they paid for him, with hopes of a £15million deal, it is stated that Gayle is settled in the north east and with a new contract signed last summer, might take some convincing to leave Tyneside.
Opinion
Any eight figure fee Newcastle pick up for Gayle is a plus for Rafael Benitez’s side this season. The striker, who proved his worth as one of the most lethal forwards in the Championship last season with West Brom, is quite clearly not the sort of forward the Spanish boss wants leading the line at St James’ Park, with the powerful Salomon Rondon taking the starting role from target man Joselu this season. It is evident Benitez prefers a physical presence, rather than a pacey option, up top and Gayle, who is very much a poacher and someone who can capitalise on counter attacks, does not offer those sort of attributes. They might be lucky to find someone who is willing to spend in excess of £15million but the Magpies need only point to his goal scoring record in the Championship to convince a second tier side to splash the cash. He almost guarantees goals and when you are chasing promotion that is exactly what you want.