NUFC set to block January sale - but risk losing him for free despite '£20m' valuation - Report

According to Football Insider, Newcastle valued Dwight Gayle at £20m last summer and will refuse to sell him at a reduced fee in January - despite him being out of contract next summer.

The striker can leave on a free agent if no new deal is agreed between now and the end of the season, but the report claims that Steve Bruce has demanded any offers for the 30-year-old to be blocked next month, with him deemed a key squad player should Callum Wilson get injured.

Gayle ended the 2019/20 season impressively, bagging four goals and an assist during eight appearances over Project Restart.

He was benefiting from Bruce's switch to a four-man defence, however he suffered a knee injury over pre-season, meaning he's yet to kick a ball in competitive action since July.

That said, he has been spotted back in first-team training last week, with Steve Bruce's recent comments suggesting he's looking sharp and has a big part to play this season.

Although he's been needed - Carroll, Joelinton and Muto have hardly been reliable options up top - it does seem silly that we could lose a squad player on a free so soon after a top Championship club would've no doubt given us £10-£15m.

Who knows, he may yet earn a new deal should he prove his fitness over the coming months, but I can't help but wish he'd stayed at West Brom and we'd kept Salomon Rondon last summer!

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