In a recent report, Chronicle Live has revealed that Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle is on Fulham’s radar this month. It is understood that the Cottagers are eager to recruit the Magpies forward during this January transfer period with the player’s current contract at St. James’ Park set to run out at the end of this season (via Chronicle Live).
Gayle’s Lacklustre Form In English Football
The London-born marksman has experienced an uneventful season at Tyneside after he missed a lot of games as he was recovering from a medial collateral ligament injury. Gayle has made six appearances for the Magpies this term, finding the back of the net once in the process across various competitions.
The former Crystal Palace frontman played a far more prominent role at St. James’ Park in the previous campaign when he participated in 22 matches for the Tyneside club, scoring four goals and securing two assists on all fronts. Gayle struggled to be consistent with his performances as he averaged 1.2 shots, 0.3 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game in the 2019-20 Premier League season. He was also quite untidy with his ball-distribution as evident from his pass success rate of 69% in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
The 31-year-old has only got a handful of years left in him to play at a high level, so he could be tempted with the opportunity to join Fulham where he might get a proper shot of earning regular first-team football in the coming seasons.
What Does The English Centre-Forward Bring To The Table?
Gayle is a quick and agile forward who can make some promising runs with the ball in the final third. He is proficient at getting himself into some dangerous areas inside the opponent’s penalty area and can be a composed finisher when he is playing with confidence on the field.
However, the English striker is far too inconsistent with his goal-scoring and tends to give way the ball cheaply when he is under pressure from the opposition defenders. At 31, he also doesn’t add any long-term value to Newcastle, which explains why the club is yet to offer him a new contract.
Should Bruce Cut Gayle Loose In January?
At the moment, the Magpies have got Callum Wilson and Joelinton as their first-team forwards while Andy Carroll provides cover for them on the bench. There is no denying that Gayle is surplus to requirements at Tyneside. Hence, Bruce can afford to cash in on him for a bargain fee this month rather than lose him for free next summer. With all things considered, it is only fair to the player if Newcastle allow him to leave during this winter transfer period.
