OPINION
Rafa Benitez must still rue Newcastle United making a blunder in the summer by letting attacker Dwight Gayle based on the fact he reportedly is pursuing the services of Leeds United forward Kemar Roofe.
The Daily Mirror claimed on Saturday that the Magpies boss was targeting Leeds’ in-form 25-year-old attacker in a bid to boost his side’s firepower in January and would potentially make a move if his transfer budget allowed it.
Yet while Roofe is in tremendous form this season, racking up 13 goals in 20 outings this season, he does appear to be a very similar type of forward to Gayle.
While the Whites forward is three-years younger, just like Gayle he is a pacey, hard-working forward who so far has only proven to be a clinical force in England’s second-tier.
Though in fairness it’s worth noting Roofe hasn’t had his opportunity to play in the Premier League, but then again no assumption should be made that he can make the step up successfully.
However based on Benitez’s pursuit of Roofe and desire to add him to his squad in January, it does prove that he no doubt still wishes Gayle was at St James Park.
It was claimed just ahead of Gayle joining West Bromwich Albion on loan by Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh on his Twitter that Spanish boss wasn’t keen on losing the 28-year-old forward.
The Gayle-Rondon swap deal makes sense for all parties – just frustrating it's dragged on for so long. Ideally Rafa would have liked to have kept Gayle & then had more competition, & the fact Rondon isn't permanent once again raises questions about #nufc's lack of summer spend
— Chris Waugh (@ChrisDHWaugh) August 6, 2018
While getting Rondon has proven to be a fantastic bid of business, it would have been much better if the Magpies had reach a deal that didn’t see Gayle go in the other direction, as the Venezuelan isn’t the same type of forward.
While Gayle’s strike rate in the Premier League is nothing to write home about, he always made himself a nuisance to defences and who knows his partnership with Rondon could be worth its weight in gold.
Yet no true replacement for the now on loan-WBA star arrived and seems Benitez still rues being without him based on the fact he is chasing the very similar Roofe.