Middlesbrough Opinion: Why Boro should go all out to sign Dwight Gayle?

According to a report from the Daily Star, Middlesbrough are interested in signing Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle this summer.

Dwight Gayle, 28, spent the last season on long at West Brom, with Salomon Rondon going the opposite direction. He netted 24 goals in 39 Championship appearances, being one of the driving forces behind the Baggies promotion charge which ended in play-off semi-finals defeat to rivals Aston Villa.

After it was confirmed that West Brom would spend another season in England’s second tier, the club opted not to make Gayle’s signing permanent.

Gayle is back at Newcastle but isn’t expected to stay as he is not a part of Rafael Benitez’s future plans. That being said, Middlesbrough must do everything possible to sign the 28-year-old this summer.

Middlesbrough appointed Jonathan Woodgate as their manager on Friday to succeed Tony Pulis, who departed at the end of last season when Boro missed out on the play-offs. The 39-year-old will have a huge task of building the squad as per his own image and playing an attractive brand of football to bring the fans back to Riverside.

By bringing in several quality additions during the transfer window, Woodgate will undoubtedly be pushing for promotion next term. Following a season in which Middlesbrough scored just 49 goals, it’s clear where the newly-appointed manager should focus first while signing players.

A need to strengthen the centre-forward department is paramount, with a lack of goals proving to be really troublesome for Boro last season. And with this mind, Dwight Gayle would be perfect for the Teesside outfit.

In recent years, Gayle has thrived in the second tier of English football and his record in the second-tier of English football is phenomenal. During the recently concluded season, the experienced striker scored 24 goals from his 39 Championship appearances for West Brom, who finished fourth in the division.

That simply tells what a lethal finisher the 28-year-old is and how would he help Boro improve upon the potency of their play in the final third next term.

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If Gayle returns to the Championship next season, the team that lands him will surely be in with a brilliant chance of getting across the line in the promotion race. If it is Middlesbrough, his goals could make all the difference at the Riverside Stadium.

Verdict

Woodgate will be well aware that he’ll need more depth and quality in forward department to mount a promotion charge, but it remains to be seen how a player like Gayle would be welcomed by the Middlesbrough faithful.