West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce may now be looking to launch a double raid on Newcastle United for midfielder Sean Longstaff and striker Dwight Gayle.
That’s according to the Sunday Mirror (13/03, p68), who claim that Bruce fancies bringing both Newcastle players to The Hawthorns this summer.
West Brom are set to miss out on the Championship playoffs after a disappointing season, with Bruce now already drawing up summer transfer targets.
One of the names on the list is believed to be striker Gayle, who cost Newcastle around £10million after signing from Crystal Palace back in 2016.
Newcastle are allegedly willing to make Gayle available this summer, which is no surprise given their plans for big new signings.
Gayle has already had one spell with West Brom, spending the 2018-19 season on loan with the Baggies.
The 32-year-old smashed 24 goals in 41 games for West Brom but hasn’t really been in the goals for Newcastle since that loan spell ended.
Gayle was in and out of the team under Bruce, but maybe the West Brom boss feels that the striker will be more suited to the Championship.
It could end up being a double raid on Newcastle given that the report claims Bruce also fancies signing midfielder Longstaff.
Longstaff, 24, is out of contract this summer and whilst Eddie Howe wants to keep him at Newcastle, there could be an exit on the cards.
Longstaff is finding first-team starts hard to come by but did feature in the Newcastle XI against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
That makes a move to West Brom look somewhat unlikely, but Bruce may just hope that Newcastle’s imminent spending spree frees up some players to reunite with him in the Championship.
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