Heading into the midway point of the January transfer window, it has been rather quiet considering how manic this month usually is for clubs in the Football League, and West Brom have been one of many sides yet to conduct any business.
Rumours have been there, with several attackers linked with a move to the Hawthorns as Slaven Bilic aims to add some much-needed extra firepower to the West Brom frontline, and a constant name that has been floating around over the past few months is Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle.
The 29-year-old striker is set to leave the Magpies this month as reported by The Daily Mail, with Gayle hardly featuring under Steve Bruce this season with stats from Transfermarkt showing that the former Crystal Palace forward has only played just 178 first-team minutes this campaign, and the Premier League side have named their price.
Do West Brom need to spend in January?Yes, the squad needs that extra somethingNo, we're sorted for now |
The Sun report via The Birmingham Mail that the northeast club will accept £8m for Gayle, a seemingly good deal for West Brom given that the striker was pivotal last season in the Baggies making the Championship play-offs, but Bilic could do better in the transfer window than the Newcastle attacker for the price the English giants are asking for.
Indeed, Gayle’s severe lack of game time this season should be an indicator that the former Albion hero won’t be at the peak of his powers as he was last year for West Brom, and with Bilic likely looking for an attacker who can arrive in good shape and with goals behind him already this campaign, this makes the Newcastle striker a less than ideal winter signing.
West Brom are wise to target an attacker this transfer window, but Gayle should be a name that is quickly wiped away from their shortlist with the asking price finally unveiled by Newcastle.