Sky Sports understands that Sky Bet Championship side Fulham have produced a £15million bid for Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle. The former Crystal Palace man netted 23 times last season as the Magpies secured the Championship title. Rafa Benitez is open to the prospect of him going, but what do Fulham and even Newcastle fans make of this?
Gayle, aged 26, has featured just twice for Newcastle in the opening weeks of the new season. He featured in the opening day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park, then in the 1-0 defeat at fellow promoted side Huddersfield Town. Although Fulham have distanced themselves from making any such bid, they are clearly in the market for a forward with Sone Aluko moving on to rivals Reading.
Newcastle are believed to be holding out for something closer to £20million. They would consider letting him go if a replacement can be found, so Mike Ashley will certainly need to release funds to Benitez to make this happen. Rui Fonte and Aboubakar Kamara have already joined the club this summer in the striker department but Jokanovic wouldn’t reject the chance to add Gayle, proven at this level.
The Waltamstown-born forward has also played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Bishop’s Stortford and Peterborough United, where he scored regularly.
With this in mind, we looked to the often wild and whacky world of social media and Twitter to see how fans – of Fulham and Newcastle, would react if any move would materialise.
Fulham supporters:
Gayle is a London lad. Bring him home! #ffc
— Skibby (@Skibby_) August 30, 2017
Unsure on Dwight Gayle. I cannot see him coming to Fulham so I doubt I will have to make my mind up on him #ffc
— Levi Davies (@leviffc) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/GeorgeLeman/status/902846140974063617
This transfer window is getting to me, just dreamt we had signed Jota and Gayle ffs #FFC
— Holly Bliss (@_HollyBliss) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/Dyl_Sahota/status/902843031514177536
Perhaps either Jota/Gayle would be a loan with obligation to buy scenario?Can't work out where this cash is coming from without a sale #ffc
— Nelson (@ffs_nelson) August 30, 2017
And how about the Newcastle fans, would they be happy to see their top scorer from last season move on?
Who would have thought 3 weeks ago that Gayle would be going and Mitro is staying #NUFC
— Liam Hass (@LiammHassonn) August 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeanWales1/status/902848765467525124
If we manage to get £20m for Gayle, I'd like us to try and get Bony from city! #NUFC
— Scott Pocklington (@Scott_Pock) August 30, 2017
Also if I was Raffa I'd want to oversee the potential Gayle sale and replacement purchase personally. #NUFC
— Southern Softie (@SSoftie) August 30, 2017
Only sell gayle if we have a replacement literally in the door as he leaves ! #nufc
— The_FM_Project (@The_FM_Project) August 30, 2017