‘Proven goalscorer’ Dwight to make impact at Baggies
STRIKER Dwight Gayle’s Albion career is up and running after sealing a loan move to The Hawthorns.
The 28-year-old, given a 30-minute run out in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, will stay with the Baggies for the season after completing a deal that saw Salomon Rondon move in the opposite direction to Newcastle.
He is Darren Moore’s seventh summer signing after Sam Johnstone, Kyle Bartley, Jonathan Bond, Harvey Barnes, Conor Townsend and Tosin Adarabioyo.
“The manager attracted me,” Gayle said. “He’s really enthusiastic about my game. I’m buzzing to come down.”
Moore said Gayle’s style of play and track record Championship swoop.
“This deal was in the best interests of both clubs,” said the head coach. “Dwight is a proven goalscorer in the Championship. He’s quick and sharp off the back of defenders and I believe he will add to our goal threat.”
Albion and Newcastle had been in talks for several weeks over a striker swap deal. Wages had been a sticking point.
Rondon’s post-relegation flexdown contract means his weekly pay is around £2,500 less than Gayle’s.
Albion were keen for Newcastle to pay the difference with Rondon seen as a more valuable asset. Newcastle reportedly paid a £2 million loan fee to seal the swap.
Rondon is out of contract of goals in influenced the his next summer but the Baggies have a year’s option and could activate that clause to get the possible fee if the South American thrives at St James’ Park.
The 28-year-old was renowned for his work-rate, but not his end product, scoring just 24 goals in 108 Premier League games.
Gayle has also found goals in the top flight hard to come by, with both Newcastle and Crystal Palace, but the 28-year-old has been prolific at Championship level. The former Arsenal apprentice scored 13 in 29 games for Peterborough in the 2012/13 season and bagged 23 goals in 32 games when Newcastle won the Championship title in 2016/17.
Meanwhile, Burnley are set to offer former Wolves striker Sam Vokes to Albion as they continue their pursuit of Jay Rodriguez.
The Baggies have refused a series of offers from the Clarets, the latest worth up to £16 million, and are demanding £20 million for their star striker. Burnley boss Sean Dyche could include Vokes in the deal to encourage West Brom.
Head coach Darren Moore is already looking for a striker at Albion – regardless of Rodriguez leaving – so the club could be left in a position of searching for two frontmen.
Vokes, a 28-year-old Wales international, is also wanted by Middlesbrough, but Moore hopes to convince him to move to The Hawthorns where he would replace Salomon Rondon and link up with Gayle.
Albion have also reportedly rejected a loan offer from Watford for central defender Craig Dawson. The Baggies are holding out for £20 million for the 28-year-old.