View: West Brom should strike early as PL side now willing to listen to offers
West Brom fans know how explosive Dwight Gayle is in the Championship. 23 goals last season fired the Baggies into the play-offs and he scored again in the first leg, only to find himself suspended for the crucial second match.
West Brom haven’t struggled for goals this season but none of Bilic’s strikers are firing. With Gayle up top there would be a clear path to automatic promotion in the second half of the season.
Up until now, all the noise coming out of St James’ Park is that Steve Bruce wants to play him.
However, in four games since he’s been back from injury he’s only totalled five minutes on the pitch and was an unused sub in the last two games.
Now, Birmingham Live have reported that Newcastle are open to offers for the striker in January.
Gayle wanted another shot at the Premier League but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out for him and he might have to admit that at 29 he’s not going to make it in the top-flight. He might have to settle for being an elite hitman in the Championship.
It’s going to be tough for West Brom to fund a permanent deal in January but if Newcastle are willing to listen to offers then Slaven Bilic should get in there first with a loan proposal for the rest of the season.
In other West Brom news, this loaned-out Albion player might not be finished at The Hawthorns just yet.