Championship side Fulham have launched a sensational £18 million bid for Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle, reports The Sun.

The 27-year-old only moved to St James’ Park last summer after falling down the pecking order at Premier League side Crystal Palace, but he certainly did his bit in helping Rafa Benitez’s side return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

The Englishman bagged 23 goals in just 32 Championship games to help inspire the Magpies to the title, although his future was plunged into doubt last weekend when he was left out of the Newcastle squad to face West Ham in the Premier League.

And it’s uncertainty which Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham are seeking to exploit, as recent reports suggest that the Cottagers have launched a stunning £18 million bid for the prolific striker.

The West London outfit lost out to Reading in the semi-finals of the play-offs last term but underlined their promotion credentials with regular season victories over Newcastle and Huddersfield Town, so much so that many are tipping them for promotion this season.

Yet Chris Martin’s return to Derby County and Sone Aluko’s departure to Reading has left them slightly short in the attacking department - a void that Gayle could certainly fill should they seal a deal for the 27-year-old before tonight’s 11pm deadline.

The Verdict: Dwight Gayle’s goals played a significant part in Newcastle United’s race to the Championship title last term, and the striker would likely have won the Golden Boot had he remained injury-free.

And his recurrent hamstring struggles may be of concern to manager Rafa Benitez and plausibly part of the reason why he is willing to listen to offers for the Englishman, and Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic clearly feels that Gayle could make the key difference in his side’s promotion bid this term.

The Cottagers have managed just five goals in their first five Championship matches to underline their need for further striking reinforcements, yet if Gayle can reproduce his form from last term at Craven Cottage, they won’t need to worry about where the goals will come from.

But they’ve got little over five hours to strike a deal with Newcastle for the 27-year-old’s services.

Fulham fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!