According to the latest reports from Bristol Live, Leeds United have been linked with a move for Newcastle United’s striker Dwight Gayle. Quite a few Leeds United players are attracting interest from Premier League clubs, and it is believed that it could help the Whites fund a move for Gayle in the summer.
The Whites managed to miss out on promotion even though they occupied the direct promotion spots for most parts of the season. Marcelo Bielsa needs to go back to the drawing board to find out what went wrong in the recently concluded season.
Where does Leeds need to improve?
One area where the Whites definitely lacked was putting away their chances. The Yorkshire outfit played one of the most eye-catching brands of football, and they dominated the proceedings in almost all their Championship games. However, they often failed to convert their chances, and that cost them dear in the latter half of the season. Kemar Roofe did a decent job as a striker, but when he was out with injury, Patrick Bamford struggled to fill in for him.
Therefore the Whites might feel like adding one more option up front, and Gayle is a proven goalscorer at the Championship level. Gayle spent the last season on loan with West Bromwich Albion where he managed 24 goals in all competitions to go with eight assists. None of the Whites’ players were able to touch the 20 goal mark this season, and that is why they often struggled to finish off games even after their dominance.
What can he add to Bielsa’s team?
Gayle has impressive pace and dribbling skills, and he is often able to find the back of the net regularly. The 28-year-old has struggled to establish himself in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and Newcastle United before, but his record in the Championship has always been top notch.
Lack of depth in the squad was one of the significant reasons why Bielsa had to often use players out of position. It is imperative for the club to rectify that mistake in this transfer market, and they can once again push towards another promotion challenge.
Out of budget for the Whites?
A proven goal scorer like Gayle can help the Whites take their chances in the final third. However, his price tag could be a big issue as some reports are mentioning that the Magpies have set a £20m price tag on him. The report indicates that the club might sell other players to fund a move for the striker and it would be interesting to see who that player would be.
