Dwight Gayle set for crunch talks with Bruce ‘today’ as Leeds & West Brom prepare bids – Report

According to the Northern Echo, Steve Bruce is set to hold talks with Dwight Gayle ‘today’ in a bid to keep him at St James’ Park this summer.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that the likes of West Brom and Leeds were planning loan bids for the striker and even claimed he was ‘upset’ after he lost the no.9 shirt to NUFC new boy Joelinton.

The Echo have built on these reports today, claiming officials from both West Brom and Leeds have been in touch this week and are preparing late moves to sign Gayle – one of the most prolific strikers in the second tier.

Bruce insisted over the weekend that he wanted to keep Gayle at the club, stating he was a part of his plans, however it’s emerged that the 28-year-old is concerned about the amount of game time he’ll get following the arrivals of Joelinton and Saint-Maximin – with Almiron and Muto also ahead of him in the pecking order as things stand.

Here’s a snippet from the Northern Echo’s latest piece, stating Bruce will attempt to persuade him, but ‘accepts’ he may have to leave if he demands guaranteed game time:

STEVE BRUCE will spend the next two days trying to persuade Dwight Gayle that his future lies with Newcastle United despite a flurry of renewed interest in the striker from clubs in the Championship.

Officials from West Brom and Leeds United have been in touch with the Newcastle hierarchy in the last 24 hours to discuss the possibility of signing Gayle ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Bruce does not want to lose the 28-year-old, who spent the whole of last season on loan at the Hawthorns, but accepts it would be difficult to retain Gayle if he was to express a desire to leave.

The pair are set to discuss the situation later today, with Bruce hoping to persuade the striker that he will have a genuine opportunity to force his way into the first-team picture if he opts to remain on Tyneside beyond Thursday’s 5pm deadline.

Gayle is understood to be concerned that he could find himself at the bottom of Newcastle’s pecking order if he stays with the Magpies this season.

Joelinton is a guaranteed starter in the wake of his club-record move from Hoffenheim, and Bruce is expected to play the Brazilian alongside Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin once the trio are all fully up to speed.

Yoshinori Muto has impressed on the training ground this summer, and is regarded as an appealing option from the substitutes’ bench, meaning Gayle, who ceded his number nine shirt to Joelinton, is effectively Newcastle’s fifth-choice forward.

However, Bruce, who is still confident of landing a new right-back before the window swings shut, is adamant the former Crystal Palace forward will get opportunities to impress and would like to include him in the 25-man squad that has to be submitted to the Premier League.

Gayle and his representatives are aware of the mounting interest from clubs in the second tier, with West Brom keen to engineer a repeat of the loan move that proved so successful last season.

Gayle scored 24 goals for the Baggies last season, and while West Brom officials claimed he was out of their price range earlier this summer, the financial situation at the Hawthorns has changed in the wake of a raft of sales that have raised around £30m. The departure of the likes of Jay Rodriguez, Salamon Rondon, Gareth Barry and James Morrison has significantly reduced the wage bill, meaning another move for Gayle is now feasible.

Gayle would be a very useful option as fourth or fifth choice, but it’s fair to say he would NOT be happy to have such a bit-part role in our season.

There’s not long left, with just over 48 hours of the transfer window remaining, however I can see him leaving on loan in the coming days – but only IF we manage to bring in a capable replacement.

We do have two domestic loan deals available to us, so it would not surprise me if we look to use one of these if Gayle really does want out.

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

2 thoughts on “Dwight Gayle set for crunch talks with Bruce ‘today’ as Leeds & West Brom prepare bids – Report

  1. “….meaning Gayle, who ceded his number nine shirt to Joelinton,…”

    Surely Gayle ceded his number 9 shirt to Rondon?

      (Quote)

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