Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle’s chances of a return to the first-team look bleak unless a new manager comes in, according to Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh.
Gayle has fallen out of favour under Rafael Benitez at St James’ Park, with the 28-year-old being involved in a loan swap with West Brom last season which saw Salomon Rondon come the other way and have a fantastic season on Tyneside.
Writing in a column for the Newcastle Chronicle, Waugh said that Benitez is unlikely to want to keep Gayle around next season if he stays on at the helm, with other clubs interested in his services.
“Should Benitez stay as Newcastle manager, then the Spaniard wants to sign Salomon Rondon permanently, and the Magpies had hoped to use Gayle as a makeweight in a deal for the Venezuelan, who has a £16.5million release clause in his contract,” the journalist wrote.
“It is understood that Gayle was offered a pay-rise by Newcastle in order to convince him to move to West Brom on loan, so selling the forward will not be straightforward.
“Norwich City, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa have all shown an interest in Gayle, who is likely to depart if Benitez stays. If a new manager comes in, then Gayle could get another first-team chance – otherwise he is likely to leave.”
OPINION
The future of Dwight Gayle is something that is very much up in the air at the moment, since there are so many things riding on it. Firstly. there is Benitez’s future at the club. If the Spaniard stays, then – as Waugh says – the striker will likely leave. But first of all, Benitez will want to make sure that he can get Rondon in on a permanent deal before making any movements on Gayle. And that will not be easy, since there are other clubs such as Wolves who have been credited with interest in the Venezuelan marksman. However, if Benitez leaves St James’ Park, then a whole new raft of possibilities open up for Gayle. A new manager could have a completely different outlook on the striker and may implement him back into the first team. We will have to wait and see on this one, since the manager’s future will be the thing that ultimately decides Gayle’s future. But it is set to be a nervous wait for the Englishman.