Revealed: Bielsa sets sights on £50K-a-wk striker as Leeds alternative to Adams

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Published on:

08 Jan 2020, 8:25 am

Leeds United have identified Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle as a potential alternative to Che Adams despite his £50,000-a-week wages, Football Insider understands.

The striker has made just one Premier League start since returning to St James' Park last summer after a prolific season on loan at West Brom.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider that Gayle, 28, figure prominently on Marcelo Bielsa's shortlist of striker targets for this month as they look to provide cover and competition for Patrick Bamford.

Che Adams is Bielsa's first choice to replace Eddie Nketiah, who was recalled by Arsenal from his Elland Road loan last week.

But Gayle remains on the radar of the Leeds manager even though his salary is way beyond what any of their players are earning.

Newcastle are willing to loan out the 29-year-old this month to a club who cover his salary for the second half of the season.

That may be within the scope of Leeds, who handed Kiko Casilla a £40,000-a-week deal when they signed him from Real Madrid in January of last year.

A permanent move for Gayle, who is valued at beyond £10million by Newcastle, is not regarded as an option for the Yorkshire giants.

As a proven goal machine in the Championship, Gayle should need little settling-in period after scoring prolifically at that level for West Brom and Newcastle.

He banged in 24 goals in 41 matches at West Brom last season and his overall record in the competition is 59 goals from 100 games.

Football Insider first broke the news of Leeds' interest in Adams on 20 December and they are in pole position to sign him on loan if Southampton allow him to leave by the 31 January cut-off.

That may depend upon Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl securing a replacement for the £15million signing after insisting last week at his media conference that he currently has no plans to let him go.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that the club have made an approach to sign Premier League midfielder after manager U-turn.

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