It has been a steady start to the Championship season for West Brom with Slaven Bilic's side slowly starting to gain some momentum.

With six matches played in the second tier, the Baggies sit in fourth place, with three wins, three draws and zero losses to their name.

It is a record that becomes more impressive when you look at it in the context of what was a pretty manic summer, losing the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Craig Dawson from a settled first-team.

However, even though the summer transfer window has just closed, attentions seem to have already turned to the January window, with Bilic hinting that they will make a move for Dwight Gayle, in the Shields Gazette.

Gayle scored 23 goals for the Baggies during an impressive campaign last season but did not return in the summer.

But would this be a good idea?

Here are TWO pros and TWO cons to the deal being completed...

Ruthless record

Gayle is an outstanding striker at Championship level.

He has bagged 59 goals in 100 appearances in the division, comfortably scoring over 20 in his last two seasons with Newcastle and Albion.

He is as sure a thing as they come so if the opportunity comes to sign him, you would not blame anyone in the second-tier for going all out to get him.

Fan favourite

Unsurprisingly, after proving such an acomplished goalscorer at this level, Gayle became a huge hit with the Hawthorns faithful.

Bringing him back in January would therefore give them such a huge morale boost to the fans and that feeling will inevitably filter through to the dressing room as well.

There are plenty of factors that come into play during a promotion campaign - a reliable goalscorer, rock solid defence, team spirit - but having a crowd that is 100% behind the team, week-in week-out can also make a huge impact.

Money

 

It is always a drawback, isn't it?

The reality is that if West Brom want to bring Gayle back, they will more than likely have to shoulder his considerable wages and, considering they could not afford them in the summer, why would they be able to now?

It needs to be carefully considered. Would a move for the marksman stop them from strengthening in other, potentially more important, key areas?

Match-ready?

Having missed the entirety of the season with Newcastle so far, and not looking likely to be involved in the remainder of it, would he be ready to play?

When signing a player of Gayle's calibre you need him to hit the ground running and if he does not do that, then it is a move that could end up backfiring.

It might not, but it is an aspect well worth tracking over the next few months.