Newcastle have placed a £15 million fee on Dwight Gayle for any interested clubs, according to the Telegraph, with the player keen to leave, despite not demanding a move.
Steve Bruce spoke of his desire to keep Gayle on Tyneside, as speculation over interest in the striker intensifies, hence such a high asking price, in the hope of deterring most clubs outside the Premier League.
But in reality, offloading Gayle for a fee slightly less than that £15m, and using it to form part of a realistic bid for Jarrod Bowen from Hull, would be a logical move.
Hull claimed Bowen would not be sold for the mooted £20m fee in January, but if Newcastle showed genuine intent, and put the money on the table, it would be a surprise if the player did not want to come north.
If the player expresses a desire to move to the Premier League, it would leave the Tigers in a tough position, as they would almost certainly have to accept a reasonable offer.
Newcastle should offer Gayle plus cash for Bowen
It might not be beyond the realms of possibility to use Gayle in a player plus cash deal for Bowen, and it would be a surprise if it that outcome has not been discussed.
Gayle, of course, has a reputation for being a prolific goal-scorer in the second tier, and if a club like Hull were to see their prize asset leave, his goals could appease disgruntled Tigers fans.
At £15m, there are certainly not many – if any – Championship clubs who could afford to buy Gayle, and with Newcastle not looking to let him leave on loan, it may take a top flight side to tempt Bruce to sell him.
But with Gayle having a sketchy scoring record in the Premier League, he would be a risky choice for any club that may consider a move.
With all that said, if Newcastle could manage to extract a big fee for Gayle, and can somehow manufacture a deal to bring Bowen to St James’ Park, those deals alone would represent a successful January transfer window for Bruce.
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