Newcastle United will reportedly try and move Dwight Gayle on during this summer’s transfer window.
The striker is one of multiple Toon players who could leave St James’ Park, as Eddie Howe looks to remodel his squad.
There are plenty of players who have barely featured since Howe was appointed, with the takeover taking the club in a completely new direction.
That means the squad Mike Ashley left behind needs to be rebuilt. We still have various players who were with us under Rafa Benitez in the Championship, which just shows how much the team has stagnated in recent years.
It is a summer of transition at Newcastle United, meaning players like Gayle will be sold or loaned out. That’s the plan at least, but perhaps it won’t be that simple.
Championship clubs have doubts over Dwight Gayle transfer
The Athletic report that multiple Championship clubs rate the Newcastle striker ‘highly’. That’s no surprise given his record in the second tier of English football.
Gayle, who reportedly earns £40,000-a-week at SJP, has spent three seasons playing in the Championship. He’s represented Newcastle, West Brom and Peterborough, scoring 59 goals in 100 league games. That is a very good tally.
The 32-year-old is an elite scorer in the second division, but has never really been able to take that form into the Premier League. His best tally in the top flight is seven when he played for Crystal Palace.
His Championship record is sensational, but there are some doubts when it comes to a summer transfer.
The Athletic add that some clubs are concerned about Gayle’s ‘durability’. He turns 33 in October, while he’s barely played over the last two seasons.
He made eight appearances this season for the Magpies, all of which came as a substitute. He’s been available for basically the entire season, but hasn’t been called upon by first Steve Bruce and then Eddie Howe.
Hopefully one club decides to take a punt on Gayle, as he’s someone who needs to go and get minutes elsewhere. He can be the difference in the Championship, and could seriously help a team chasing promotion.
However, there’s no chance of him getting much football in a Newcastle shirt.
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