Dwight Gayle
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Revealed: The real reason why Nottingham Forest signing this £40,000-a-week PL ace would be a wise move

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Why Dwight Gayle to Nottingham Forest would be quite a coup

According to claims from The Athletic journalist Paul Taylor, as cited by the Lancashire Evening Post, Nottingham Forest are eyeing up a swoop for Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle in January. 

The report adds that Forest had been keen to sign an out-and-out striker in the summer to release the pressure on the shoulders of Lewis Grabban, with Dwight Gayle high on their wishlist, but the transfer window eventually passed by without the club managing to get a deal over the line. 

The 29-year-old, who earns wages around £40,000-a-week, was a man in demand back in the summer following a prolific campaign on loan at West Brom in the Championship the last term but some injury issues saw Gayle stay put at Tyneside until at least January. 

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Gayle, who bagged as many as 24 goals for the Baggies last season, had been out of action for the last few months due to an injury but he returned to the scene as a late substitute in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat away at Chelsea on Matchday 9 in the Premier League. 

Now, as per the report, the striker’s return from injury has put some of the Championship clubs on red alert ahead of the January window and Nottingham Forest are keen to go back in the market for his services during the mid-season trading period in a bid to enhance their chances of securing a much-awaited return to the Premier Leauge. 

The Reds have made a bright start to life under Sabri Lamouchi in the Championship, laying down an early marker as one of the favourites for automatic promotion.

A shock 1-0 loss against Wigan Athletic at the weekend saw them drop down to 4th in the standings but they are still only three points behind pace-setters West Brom and very much in the hunt. 

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Forest’s surge for promotion has been led by the goals of Lewis Grabban, who has already found the net on five occasions in the Championship, whilst the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lolley and Albert Adomah have also chipped in with some crucial goal contributions. 

However, with Wolves loanee Rafa Mir and Welsh starlet Brennan Johnson the only other feasible alternatives in the striking department, bringing in a proven centre-forward in January could work wonders for Forest as far as their promotion hopes are concerned. 

To that end, Dwight Gayle might only be a mediocre striker at the Premier League level but he is more than good enough to be a dream signing for any promotion hopeful in the Championship. 

The 29-year-old boasts of an excellent strike rate of 59 goals in 100 appearances in the second-tier and Forest getting their hands on the Newcastle man would certainly be a massive statement of intent and a move that could potentially tilt the promotion race in their favour. 

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Verdict

With just more than 18 months left to run on his current deal at St. James’ Park, it is still unclear whether Forest are looking at a loan deal or a permanent move for the striker in January.

However, a temporary move to the City Ground is likely to tempt Forest more than an outright transfer, given his modest top-flight record. 

Looking at things from the player’s perspective, a move to the City Ground in January is likely to appeal to Gayle, considering the fact that he is only expected to play a bit-part role at Newcastle due to the presence of Joelinton and Andy Carroll in the ranks. 

All in all, Gayle has illustrated his proficiency in tormenting defences for fun in the Championship time and again and Nottingham Forest could find themselves one step closer to Premier League promotion for the first time in over two decades if they manage to get their hands on the 29-year-old in January.