This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Middlesbrough are considering a summer move for Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle, as per a report from journalist Alex Crook.
The experienced forward has also been name-dropped by Carlton Palmer as a player that West Brom should be looking at over the next couple of months.
Gayle was restricted to eight appearances off the bench in the Premier League with the Magpies last season, with the 32-year-old likely to be surplus to requirements as Newcastle set their sights high.
Proving to be a prolific Championship goalscorer in the past, Gayle has netted 59 times in just 100 second tier outings during his career thus far.
Three of our writers here at FLW have shared their thoughts regarding Middlesbrough's interest in the Newcastle forward...
Billy Mulley
Middlesbrough's forward line could do with some experience and Dwight Gayle is someone who would certainly fit that requirement.
He also ticks a lot of other boxes too, with the 32-year-old's energy and intelligent attacking movement proving to cause all sorts of havoc in the second tier in previous years.
Gayle links up the play very well too, possessing an excellent technical ability, whilst he has proven to establish strong working relationships with other attackers he has played with in the past.
If the next destination is Middlesbrough, then what an addition for a club who will be targeting automatic promotion next season.
Gayle's knowledge and expertise could also be passed down Josh Coburn too, with the arrival of a player like the 32-year-old probably of benefit to the young forward too.
This is definitely a move that could work out and could bolster Boro's chances of achieving something great.
Carla Devine
Dwight Gayle would be a strong signing for Middlesbrough as they look for promotion from the Championship next season.
It’s clear the striker doesn’t have a future at Newcastle United but he is a proven Championship striker. In the 2016-17 season when Newcastle gained Championship promotion, Gayle contributed 23 goals and during his loan spell with West Brom in the 2018-19 season, he scored 24 in all competitions.
If Boro are looking for promotion, this is exactly the type of player they need in their side and one that will give their side the quality to go up.
Although he is now 32-years-old, there’s no doubting Gayle’s talent at this level and he’s probably one of the most proven goalscorers in Championship history.
He will be eager to get game time himself as he comes towards the end of his career and wouldn’t be required to relocate his family either with it being a local club. This one seems like a no brainier to me.
Charlie Gregory
Dwight Gayle is one of those strikers who can pretty much guarantee goals in the second tier if you get him fit and at his best.
If Middlesbrough were to sign him in any capacity then, they could certainly solve an issue of theirs upfront. Gayle, at his peak, is capable of double digits in this division. In his last three Championship seasons for example, he managed 23, 23 and 13.
Similar form could make him one of the best forwards in the league and would almost certainly make Middlesbrough promotion contenders. That is exactly what they want and they will therefore be desperate to get the signing done.
Gayle fills an area of need in attack so would be a smart bit of business by the club and in terms of whether he would be a good signing, I think his record speaks for itself.