Steve Bruce wants West Brom to re-sign Dwight Gayle on second loan deal from Newcastle United
Steve Bruce wants West Brom to re-sign Dwight Gayle on a second loan deal from Newcastle United in the summer, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The newspaper reported via their print edition on 13 March [page 68] that with the Albion set to miss out on returning to the Premier League this season, Bruce has already started to look into ways to prepare for a promotion bid next term.
It is understood that Bruce’s transfer plans are being drawn up and out-of-favour Magpies striker Gayle, 32, is on his radar.
The Sunday Mirror reports that if a deal is struck for the ex-West Brom loanee, it will not be a permanent one due to wages being an issue.
And that is why if Gayle does return to the Black Country, it would be on a second loan spell.
Change the record
Gayle has now been linked with a move to West Brom more times than he actually scored for us.
With each passing transfer window and with each passing manager, there’s speculation about Gayle making a return to The Hawthorns.
We can see why.
He was prolific in 2018/19 when he was on loan with the Albion, scoring 24 times in 41 appearances across all competitions.
The ex-Crystal Palace striker is a well-known goal-getter in the Championship but with him now aged 32 (he’ll turn 33 in October) and barely playing for Newcastle in the last couple of years, would he have the same impact at West Brom as he did a few seasons back?
We doubt it and in truth, the club may end up having better striker options in Daryl Dike and Andy Carroll if they opt to stick around.
And on that note, this seems to hinge upon whether Bruce will still be in charge at The Hawthorns next season.
Based on Albion’s form since he took charge from Valerien Ismael, that seems unlikely.
In other West Brom news, The Athletic shares how one player has been demanding better from his teammates with his “straight-talking”.
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