Newcastle United striker, Dwight Gayle, is in talks with Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough, according to the Daily Mail.
Midfielder Isaac Hayden departed Newcastle and joined Norwich City on a loan deal on Tuesday and it seems as though Gayle could join him in England’s second-tier next season.
The Magpies paid £10 million for Gayle’s services back in 2016 when they were in the Championship (ESPN).
And whilst it didn’t work for him in the Premier League, he certainly paid them back by helping them earn instant promotion, at the time.
But with Calum Wilson and Chris Wood ahead of Gayle in the pecking order at St James’ Park, it isn’t a surprise he is looking for the exit door.
At 32-years-old, he’s not exactly going to serve the new-Saudi led ownership on Tyneside with much purpose, especially given that they are now undertaking a long-term project.
BORO’S CHANCES OF EARNING PROMOTION WOULD IMPROVE WITH GAYLE
But whilst Gayle’s time might be up in the Premier League, there is no reason why he can’t help Boro earn promotion to the Premier League next season.
The Englishman has credit in the bank from before and his record is also far better in the Championship.
From 145 Premier League games, Gayle scored 26 goals and supplied seven assists, both in Newcastle and Crystal Palace colours.
However, when dropping down a division, Gayle has 59 goals from 100 Championship games and 16 assists to boot.
So, if former Sheffield United boss Wilder can pull this deal off, then it would start off his summer in a pretty strong fashion.
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