The Nottingham Forest playmaker has been heavily linked with Newcastle United recently.
Fortunately for Newcastle United, Dwight Gayle has been so consistent in front of goal this season that no one can say for sure just how reliant they are upon his predatory instincts.
His 19 goals have put him well clear in the race for the Championship Golden Boot while no other player in Rafa Benitez’s squad can hold a candle to his prolific exploits. In fact, Newcastle’s second highest goalscorers this season are Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran on four apiece while support strikers Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy have just six between them.
In short, the prospective signing of Ben Osborn would do little to ease the goalscoring burden on the hitherto irrepressible Gayle. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is reportedly interesting The Magpies after emerging as a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing campaign at the City Ground, the Nottingham Post reports.
And, while he would be signed for his creative rather than clinical attributes, it’s clear that Benitez needs the rest of the team to contribute in front of goal and Osborn’s tally of seven in 106 Championship appearances suggests he would not prove particularly useful in that regard.
The 21-year-old’s excellent weight of pass and handy versatility means Benitez would surely find some use for him in his starting XI, potentially off the front or in a nominally left wing role, but Gayle would remain as essential as ever.
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