Exclusive: 'That would be fantastic' - Kevin Phillips wants West Brom to sign proven striker

We're delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he'll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns...

Kevin Phillips has claimed that Dwight Gayle would be a "fantastic" addition at West Brom if the Baggies can strike a late January deal to re-sign their former striker.

Gayle, 29, was in prolific form at The Hawthorns during his season-long loan from Newcastle United last term.

He scored 24 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Baggies, who have been linked with re-signing the striker ever since he returned to the North-East.

Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported this month that Gayle was West Brom's number one target for the January transfer window as Slaven Bilic aimed to bolster his strikeforce.

However he has since suffered an injury and the likelihood of the Baggies re-signing him before Friday's transfer deadline is extremely low, according to The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley.

Depite that, Phillips has not shied away from claiming that Albion won stand a much better chance of winning promotion with Gayle than without him.

"I thought he did fantastic last year and I was gutted when he got himself sent off in the play-offs," the ex-Baggies forward exclusively told West Brom News.

"He’s a goalscorer and you ask me where they need to strengthen, I look at Charlie (Austin) and Hal (Robson-Kanu), they score goals but when you talk about Dwight Gayle, he is prolific, especially in the Championship.

"If they could secure his services that would be fantastic because he could be the difference between them going up and staying in the Championship."

West Brom have not exactly struggled for goals this season.

Bilic has seen his side score the most goals in the Championship this season with 50 while Brentford are the second-highest scorers with 44.

Albion's goals are spread about the team with not one player really standing out as the go-to goalscorer.

Austin is the top scorer as it stands with eight goals to his name while Matthew Phillips and Robson-Kanu, both on seven, are joint-second in the goalscoring charts.

In other West Brom news, Albion are in advanced talks to agree a new contract with this attacker.