Dwight Gayle fired Newcastle United to the Championship title last season – and he could repeat the trick with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nuno Espirito Santo has made his specifications clear as Wolves aim to bring a striker to Molineux in January.
As reported by the Birmingham Mail, the Portuguese coach wants a goalscorer with a proven Championship track-record. It is understood that he is interested in Lewis Grabban, the Bournemouth striker who has scored for fun on loan at Sunderland this season.
Derby County’s Chris Martin and Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United are also on his radar.
But Ostersunds forward Saman Ghoddos does not appear to fall in line with Nuno’s demands – no matter how impressive he has been in the Europa League this season, firing the Swedish minnows through the group stage to set up a thrilling clash with Arsenal.
According to the Tasnim News Agency, Iranian international Ghoddos is a January target for Wolves – who certainly have the budget to meet his £4.6 million price-tag.
It almost goes without saying, however, that Ghoddos is not exactly Nuno’s dream signing. He has never played in England after all and, while so many of Wolves’ imported additions have performed excellently so far, it appears that now is the time to complement a talented squad with a player who knows what it takes at the top end of the second tier.
Gayle, for example, looks perfect in every way. He scored 23 goals in 26 starts to fire Newcastle to the Championship title last season and, with Nuno telling the Express and Star that he wants players who can bring something different, his pace and clever movement stand him out.
Gayle would cost far more than Ghoddos, The Guardian stating that Newcastle value their number nine at £18 million.
But promotion to the Premier League is priceless.
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