Exclusive: Newcastle to block Jan exit of yet-to-be-seen ace valued at £20m last yr
Newcastle United plan to block Dwight Gayle leaving in January for a cut-price fee, Football Insider has learned.
This site revealed in October the club are keen to agree a new contract with the striker, 30, that will keep him at St James' Park beyond next summer.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce does not want to lose a proven goalscorer and being left short of forward options in the second half of the season.
A Newcastle source has told Football Insider the club intend to block the potential January exit of Gayle.
They are expecting strong interest in the forward even though he has not played a single match this season.
Premier League and top Championship clubs are monitoring the forward's situation less than a year since he was valued by United at the £20m mark.
Newcastle will not get that kind of fee for Gayle next month, when he will have entered the final six months of his current agreement.
Bruce is a big fan of Gayle and his goalscoring record makes him a valuable asset.
The former Crystal Palace man banged in four Premier League goals from eight matches at the end of last season and had started to establish himself as the first choice up front before his injury.
Newcastle subsequently signed Callum Wilson for around £20m and he has firmly established himself as the club's main striker.