According to The Athletic, West Bromwich Albion are one of half-a-dozen Championship clubs interested in signing Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle, and he is exactly what they need.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Athletic report that the Baggies, along with promotion rivals Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, are all keen on the 29-year-old, who would cost in excess of £15m.
West Brom of course had the centre-forward on loan during the 2018/19 campaign, and it was a hugely successful one as he scored 23 goals in 39 league games, before netting another in the play-offs.
The report adds that while the former Crystal Palace man is desperate for first-team football having only got 150 top flight minutes under his belt this term, Newcastle’s lack of potency up top means that Steve Bruce cannot afford to let him go.
The Athletic suggests that mindset could change if a substantial bid for his services arrives next month, however.
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Exactly what they need
One of the main reasons that the west Midlands outfit finished fourth last season was because of Gayle’s exploits in front of goal, but it has been a different story this time around for the side under Slaven Bilic.
Despite currently lying in second spot and only being behind Leeds United on goal difference following just their second Championship defeat of the campaign against Middlesbrough on Sunday, they haven’t been able to rely on one of their strikers with goals not exactly free-flowing.
Charlie Austin has seven, Hal Robson-Kanu has six and Kenneth Zohore has two, as per Transfermarkt.
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In fact, there has been a real reliance on the attacking midfielders to step up, with Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Matt Phillips scoring 17 between them.
West Brom’s record of 47 goals in their 25 league fixtures is actually the best in the division, but it could be even better if they had someone of Gayle’s calibre up top – he is proven at this level with 59 goals in 100 outings.
A £15m-plus fee for a 29-year-old is a lot, but he is someone who could easily make the difference in their bid to finish in the top two come May.
In other West Brom news, Baggies fans were left largely unhappy with one Tony Pulis signing following the defeat against Middlesbrough…
