Newcastle United could soon come up against the Celtic star if recent reports are anything to go by.
With less than a month to go until January, speculation about Celtic striker Moussa Dembele is perhaps to be expected.
Brighton & Hove Albion are the latest to be linked with a move for the Bhoys striker [Daily Mail], in whom several others have been credited with interest in recent months.
And while Celtic may fancy their chances of hanging onto the eight-goal striker until the summer at least, they would be wise to implement some sort of contingency plan should the worst happen.
Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle, the player that ended Brendan Rodgers’ Premier League title dream, would be a decent place to start.
Newcastle have already shown a willingness to part with the 27-year-old, for whom they accepted a £15 million offer from Dembele’s old club Fulham in August – only for the move to collapse after the Magpies failed to land a replacement [Mirror].
And while Gayle may have scored twice in his last three appearances, in addition to 23 last season, it is plausible he could be sold in January, with Newcastle desperate for funds as a proposed takeover of the club continues to evade them.
Having already proved his credentials in England’s second tier, the prospect of a new challenge a Celtic may sound appealing.
And Rodgers, whose Liverpool side were on the receiving end of Gayle’s brace for Crystal Palace three years ago, is certainly aware of the Newcastle player’s ability.
With Celtic looking at a minimum £20 million windfall if and when Dembele does depart, he may have the funds to make it happen.
Should Celtic move for Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle if Moussa Dembele leaves?
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