After claims that both Fulham and Swansea were eyeing a summer swoop for Dwight Gayle, the Chronicle have revealed that the striker has no intention of leaving St James’ Park – being ‘eager’ to be part of Benitez’s project and ‘kick on’ next season.
Lee Ryder also reveals that Rafa Benitez ‘won’t even consider’ selling the 27-year-old unless he is allowed to sign two strikers this summer.
This is no surprise on both fronts really. Gayle has a young family on Tyneside and will be desperate to prove his worth next season after just five goals this term, whilst Rafa won’t be prepared to sell strikers until he gets a couple in – especially when current options Mitrovic and Slimani have little to no future at the club.
Another link to Fulham for Dwight Gayle but the striker likes it #nufc and Rafa Benitez won't even consider such a sale unless he gets is allowed to sign a couple of strikers this summer.
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) May 2, 2018
Gayle’s form has been worrying, but I’d like to think we won’t be having to rely on him nearly as heavily next season. He’s not dealt with that burden well at all over the last year, scoring just 5 in 32 games – and missing plenty sitters along the way.
I’d imagine plenty fans would be more than happy to cash in on Gayle if anything like £15m was offered by Swansea or Fulham this summer (and I would too) but this isn’t Football Manager.
Selling him and struggling to find a suitable replacement would be the sort or rookie error Rafa is demanding we avoid this summer.
In an ideal world, I’d cash in on Gayle and Mitrovic and spend that £35m (or so) on two strikers far more suited to Rafa Benitez’s system, but I wouldn’t complain if Gayle stayed and ended up being a back up option following the signing of a much needed proven goalscorer.
What would you like to see happen folks?
