West Brom want to re-sign former Hawthorns fan favourite – report
West Brom are reportedly keeping tabs on Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle, who is set to be out of contract in the summer.
Gayle spent the 2018/19 season on loan with the Baggies in the Championship, making himself a fan favourite by scoring 24 goals and providing two assists in 40 appearances (via WhoScored).
According to the Newcastle Chronicle, the 31-year-old remains on the club’s radar and they could move for him in the summer if he does not sign a new deal at St James’ Park.
The striker is yet to appear for Steve Bruce’s side this season, with injury ruling him out of action thus far.
When he returns, he will have a tough ask to prove he is worth a new deal, with Callum Wilson in a rich vein of form since his arrival from Bournemouth over the summer.
However, he was relatively effective for the Magpies last year, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 20 Premier League appearances, with just 10 coming from the start.
Proven Championship quality
A move for Gayle, who turned 31 in October, would likely depend on whether the Baggies are able to stay in the Premier League or not.
At the top-flight level, he has never quite been able to prove his qualities as a consistent goalscorer. In 119 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace and Newcastle he has only scored 25 goals (via Transfermarkt) and with him approaching his 32nd birthday at the start of next season, he is unlikely to turn the needle for the Baggies if they can avoid relegation.
However, if they are relegated and are looking to bounce back, it is a short term move that potentially makes a lot of sense. Gayle proved his goalscoring chops at The Hawthorns during his spell on loan and his record at that level is excellent, with 59 goals in 100 appearances across his career (via Transfermarkt).
Any deal will likely depend on his contract situation with Newcastle, but he could be an interesting free agency option to look into in the summer if that is how his situation plays out.
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