Leeds should not give up on Dwight Gayle entirely as report suggests asking price could drop

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Leeds United should perhaps wait in the wings in case Newcastle United drop their asking price for Dwight Gayle.

According to a report from the Guardian, Leeds have cooled their interest in Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle who could be available this summer on a couple of occasions.

The Guardian reports that an £18 million asking price has been set for the 26-year-old, while Rafa Benitez will not let last season’s top goalscorer leave until a replacement has been found.

Unsurprisingly given the reported price, the Guardian reports that the Whites have decided to turn their attention as they look to replace Chris Wood – who recently departed for Burnley.

But perhaps the Guardian’s suggestion that Gayle’s asking price could actually drop towards £10 million before the deadline should tempt the Leeds hierarchy to wait in the wings and not give up on signing the former Crystal Palace man entirely.

Gayle was sensational in the Championship last season, scoring 23 goals to inspire the Magpies to the title and automatic-promotion to the top flight.

That kind of form would undoubtedly make him a major asset to a Leeds side that has shown plenty of quality so far this term.

Given his injury record, it makes sense for the Whites to distance themselves from a deal while the price is so high, but if Newcastle find a replacement but have no takers for Gayle – which the Guardian hints is unlikely – Leeds should try luck in the hope that their need to keep the wage bill down may tempt the Magpies to consider a lower offer.

And while it will still be a gamble to spend a low eight-figure amount on the striker, he showed last season that he has the ability to certainly justify being a £10 million player.

So for that reason, perhaps Leeds should not give up on signing Gayle entirely in the hope that Newcastle need to sell and drop the asking price dramatically in the final moments of the window.