Prominent pundit Danny Mills has backed Leeds United to sign Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle on Deadline Day, with the Whites holding a distinct advantage over fellow interested side West Bromwich Albion, as told to Football Insider.
Director of Football Victor Orta was believed to have contacted the Magpies earlier in the week in a bid to sound out the potential of a deal for the 28-year-old, as Whites chiefs see Gayle as a ready-made replacement for Kemar Roofe.
West Brom have likewise made contact with the North East outfit, as a summer of departures from the Hawthorns is believed to have eased the financial burden taking Gayle on loan for the term would have caused.
However, while the Baggies had put forward a proposal to Newcastle that would have seen Gayle return to the West Midlands on loan with an option-to-buy dependant on promotion, the Express and Star understand the Toon rejected their advances as they will not sanction a temporary deal.
Newcastle are open to selling the London-born attacker before the window slams shut at 17:00 on August 8, and it is alleged Gayle will demand a hefty signing-on bonus on top of whatever fee the Magpies would deem acceptable.
Gayle is also said to be pushing for a £65,000-a-week contract should he leave Tyneside this summer, even though a return to West Brom is now unlikely.
After being informed the striker will only be on offer for a permanent transfer, the Baggies are thought to have turned the attentions elsewhere in their search for Slaven Bilic’s new hitman.
For Mills, though, it is not West Brom’s wavering interest that has given Leeds an advantage, it is the presence of Marcelo Bielsa at the helm, and the absence of Kemar Roofe freeing a vital role in the Argentine’s plans.
“It’s obviously a club that he knows,” Mills said, in relation to a return to the Hawthorns. “That has pluses and minuses, but maybe if Leeds can match everything, the enticement of 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.
“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.”
Signing Gayle would be sure to go down well with the Elland Road faithful, who have regularly called for Orta to land the former Arsenal youngster throughout the summer.