Former England international Danny Mills believes there is a ‘real good chance’ his old club Leeds United could secure the signature of Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle.
Time is running out for the Whites – or anyone else – to secure a deal for the 28-year-old. However, with Leeds and West Bromwich Albion both said to be interested, BBC pundit Mills feels the frontman would choose Elland Road over a Baggies return.
“It’s obviously a club that he knows, that has pluses and minuses but maybe if Leeds can match everything, the enticement of [Marcelo] Bielsa, the way that they play, he’d be the main man, 35,000 fans every week, massive away crowd and a real good opportunity to get into the play-offs and the Premier League,” he told Football Insider.
“That could sway it. He’s probably thinking look at how way they play, I could get a few goals. If Leeds are serious and match the money, there’s a real, real good chance they could get him.”
OPINION
It’s strange to think that Gayle is essentially a spare part at Newcastle despite being the club’s joint fifth highest earner on £40,000-per-week [Source: Spotrac]. Not only is that a damning indictment of how little the Magpies pay their players compared to their Premier League rivals, but it shows you what a decline Gayle has suffered during his time at St James’ Park. He would appear to be a fair way down the pecking order under new boss Steve Bruce, something that hasn’t been helped by his inability to take part in pre season due to injury. As for whether he would choose a switch to Leeds over West Brom, it’s hard to say. Bielsa’s side have lost Kemar Roofe to Anderlecht so they have a vacancy up front and some cash to play with, whereas the Baggies don’t seem to have the same spending power, despite a similar need at the position. The lure of Elland Road and Bielsa could well prove the difference, here, but Newcastle still have to decide what to do with the player.
