Dwight Gayle fired Newcastle United to the Championship title and Wolves will hope he can repeat the trick at Molineux.
The priority is clear for Nuno Espirito Santo in January. Sign a striker who is proven in the Championship level – a reliable goalscorer who can fire Wolves back to the Premier League.
The Birmingham Mail report that, as it stands, there are three centre-forwards on his wishlist. The first, Chris Martin, was Derby County’s top scorer for three successive seasons between 2013 and 2016. But with the Scotland international struggling for starts with The Rams, he could be available in January.
The same can be said of Lewis Grabban, the experienced striker who has 10 goals on loan at struggling Sunderland this season. Parent club Bournemouth can exercise their re-call clause in January and sell Grabban on a permanent deal with Wolves a potential destination.
And the report adds that Nuno is also a keen admirer of Newcastle United’s number nine Dwight Gayle. The diminutive forward looks like a prime example of a player too good for the Championship but not quite at the level required to step up to the top flight.
Though Gayle scored against Chelsea and Manchester United recently, those are his only Premier League goals this season. In stark contrast, Gayle plundered 23 in 26 starts in 2016/17 to fire Newcastle to the Championship title.
The Express and Star claimed that Wolves enquired about Gayle during the latter stages of the summer transfer window, when Newcastle were demanding around £18 million.
The Magpies will probably ask for a similar fee again in January, meaning Wolves might have to break their transfer record for the fourth window in a row.
But it will all be worth it if Gayle combines with Leo Bonatini to fire Wolves to the big time.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
