Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has dismissed any suggestion of selling Dwight Gayle to Stoke City after the Championship side bid £10million for the forward, according to the Chronicle.
The northern newspaper claim that the Magpies boss only wants to sell fringe players unless the club successfully welcome a new major arrival to improve their options upfront.
The Chronicle report that Stoke City have been told to increase their offer for the forward who currently earns £40,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac) at St James Park.
It was previously reported by the Daily Mail that the Potters had tabled a £10million offer for the forward with it claimed that he would be allowed to leave the Magpies this summer.
OPINION
It seems Stoke City’s pursuit of Gayle will end shortly as the Chronicle’s report list several reasons why the deal will struggle to happen. Aside from the Magpies already deeming the Championship side’s offer not good enough, it claims that the Potters will find it difficult to put together a tempting personal package to lure him away from St James Park. It is believed that Gayle is happy where he is and considering he has a young family, that is more than understandable. However after the 27-year-old only scored six Premier League goals in his latest campaign he should be prepared to move if Benitez successfully brings in the centre-forward he desires. It seems likely that the current Magpies manager would prefer to have Gayle as cover if that situation happens but then again the forward may find himself sacrificed to raise funds for Benitez to welcome a new arrival. Although it seems Gayle will have to attract another club as Stoke City don’t look capable of getting a deal done.
