Stoke City are preparing a ‘club record bid’ for Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle according to The Sun.
The forward performed impressively last season in the Championship on loan at West Bromwich Albion and he is now one of the most in demand strikers this transfer window.
The Potters are now said to be lining up a bid of around £20million for Gayle as they look to bolster their attacking line with a player who is renowned for being lethal in the second division of English football.
Stoke will face a huge battle to win the race for him however, as plenty of other clubs are interested in the 28-year-old. Norwich City, Sheffield United and Fulham are just a few clubs who are reportedly said to be monitoring the Newcastle man.
Considering they were relegated just last summer, Stoke City were fully expected to push for promotion however they endured an extremely disappointing season languishing in 17th place and never really challenging for even a play off spot.
The Newcastle forward netted 24 goals in 34 starts during his loan spell with the Baggies and he would undoubtedly be a quality signing for any Championship or lower Premier League club.
The Toon are looking for around £20million for Gayle and Stoke could meet their valuation should they make a club record bid for him.
Stoke fans would surely be happy to capture a signing of someone of Gayle’s calibre however it has been suggested that Gayle would want to test himself in the top flight again after well and truly proving himself in the second tier.
It’s more than likely if he did move back down to the Championship it would be with a promotion-chasing club like Fulham who could seem more likely to convince him than Stoke – a side who finished 17th last season.
