Dwight Gayle finally looks set to leave Newcastle United.
The striker is reportedly going to drop down to the Championship, with Stoke City set to secure his signature. The news was first reported by the Telegraph’s John Percy on Twitter.
He stated that the 32-year-old has completed the first part of his medical, and that his move will be confirmed this week.
Sky Sports add that the move will be a free transfer, but that doesn’t matter. The most important thing to note is that he is set to leave permanently.
Gayle joining Stoke permanently is a financial boost for Newcastle
At the start of the summer, Eddie Howe told three players to train with the Under-21s. One of them was Gayle, and the other two were Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick.
The latter duo have already left St James’ Park, joining Sheffield United and Reading on loan respectively.
As for Gayle, it looks like his time as a Newcastle United player will definitely come to an end in the coming days. That’s great news for him, as he needs to go somewhere to get minutes. And it’s good news for the club financially.
He has two years left on his Toon contract, agreeing an extension until 2024 last summer. The forward reportedly earns £40,000-a-week, and that figure was making it difficult to move him on.
A loan felt more likely given that issue, but now Gayle is set to leave permanently.
It’s a great piece of business by Dan Ashworth, and it could save the Magpies around £2million in wages.
Stoke are getting a player that can propel them to promotion
Gayle looks set to link up with former Newcastle player Michael O’Neill, who will be delighted to sign a player of his calibre.
Stoke are getting a forward who is perfect for the Championship. He scored 23 times in the second tier for Newcastle, then did the same during a loan spell at West Brom.
Gayle is a player who could propel Stoke back to the Premier League. He is more than capable of scoring the goals they need to launch a promotion charge.
The main thing is that he gets to play football. Gayle hasn’t featured much over the past couple of years at Newcastle, but has been heavily praised by Howe.
Gayle is on the brink of leaving, and will receive a lot of love from the Toon Army when his departure is confirmed.
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