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Would Crystal Palace’s Dwight Gayle be a good signing for Newcastle United?
Newcastle are in the market for British players this summer, with Rafael Benitez wanting to add gritty players capable of digging deep in the Championship. The Spaniard also wants these players to be capable of making the step up to the Premier League, if Newcastle do secure the promotion that many are predicting. In his forward line at the moment, he has Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse, Emmanuel Riviere and Adam Armstrong. Mitrovic is likely to play a major role next season, but the other four are far from certain to be sticking around. Cisse and Riviere are likely to be sold, while Perez has Premier League interest and Armstrong could be sent on another loan spell.
There have not been many players linked to St James’ Park in this window, with the club doing their business behind closed doors. One player who has been mentioned though is Dwight Gayle, with the club believed to have stepped up their interest in the Crystal Palace forward. He would be available for around £10 million, a fee that Newcastle will be able to pay.
The player is looking to leave Selhurst Park, as he is wanting regular first team action, something he has failed to get since joining Palace in 2013. A move to Newcastle would appeal as it would give him a season in the Championship to get his fitness and confidence back, before trying his luck in the Premier League again if the Magpies do achieve an instant return.
After being credited with an interest with Alexandre Lacazette and Michy Batshuayi during the last window, it is sobering for Newcastle fans to see Gayle being linked to that club. However, that is the reality of their situation, and Gayle could be a revelation in the Championship. Benitez will be targeting players who he feels will be able to progress with the club and Gayle fits that profile.
Although he has not scored bags of goals for Palace, his promise in front of goal has been evident, and a season in the second tier could give him the confidence to take the next step in his career. The careers of Troy Deeney and Jamie Vardy demonstrate that it is not too late for Gayle to establish himself as a top flight goal-scorer, but a season in the second tier could be pivotal in any transition.
It is expected that Mitrovic will be the main striker at Newcastle during 2016/17, but he will miss the opening four matches through suspension, and is always liable to get sent off, meaning Benitez needs other options in attack. There was also a feeling that Newcastle lacked a goal-scorer last season. Ayoze Perez and Adam Armstrong are both huge talents, but neither have consistently proven themselves at St James Park, at least in front of goal. It is felt that Armstrong; after a great loan spell at Coventy, could breakout this season at Newcastle, but another striker to add competition to the squad is a priority.
In terms of his style of play, Gayle does offer something that nobody else in the Newcastle side possesses. He is a poacher, similar to Jermain Defoe, who often finds space in the penalty box and has shown in the past that he is an efficient finisher. However, Alan Pardew prefers to use a physical target man, and Gayle has never secured a starting berth under the former Newcastle manager. Benitez is similar in liking physical strikers, but he is flexible and will form a squad best suited to the Championship.
The majority of teams will look to frustrate Newcastle and the Magpies are likely to possess the most quality in their squad, which should allow them to dominate matches. This will allow Benitez the chance to play with two strikers if he wants to, and a partnership between Mitrovic and Gayle could prove fruitful. The former is excellent in the air and can hold the ball up well, while Gayle will look to pick up on the scraps and his finishing ability would provide something that Newcastle lacked last season.
Dwight Gayle is not the most exciting transfer target, neither is he proven in the second tier. He did very well in a short period of time at Peterborough in League 1. He has developed since then and has looked to be a threat at times during the Premier League.
The striker is at the point in his career where he needs first team football and he has the potential to be a good signing for Newcastle, giving them a finisher that they desperately need. He would be a risk and a move for Ross McCormack, a more proven player at this level, might be a wiser move. However, Gayle has time on his side and Benitez may think that there is a bigger chance that he can make the step up to the Premier League, when required to.
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