Newcastle on verge of offloading Dwight Gayle as striker closes in on Stoke transfer after undergoing medical
NEWCASTLE are on the brink of offloading striker Dwight Gayle to Stoke.
The 32-year-old was initially put on the loan list last January by the Magpies but no bids came through.
He spent the majority of last season on the bench, mustering only eight Premier League appearances with a zero-goal tally.
The biggest impact Gayle had was off the pitch when he had a furious row with Toon coach Graeme Jones who was part of ex-boss Steve Bruce's backroom staff.
Although he did redeem himself under new head coach Eddie Howe who handed him the 'Best Trainer of the Month' award in April for his contribution during practice.
But now, Gayle's poised to add his wide berth of experience to Championship side Stoke City.
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He took one part of his medical with the club today, and will complete a permanent transfer to the West Midlands this week, according to Daily Telegraph correspondent
Stoke will hope Gayle can help fire them back into the Premier League next season after they were relegated from the English top-tier in 2018.
However, the club have got their work cut out as they finished 14th in the league last season.
Gayle's departure from St James' Park comes as Howe seeks to cull all the dead weight from his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
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Howe wants to make way for a new dynamic attack incorporating the likes of Leeds ace Jack Harrison.
But he'll have to request more funds from the club's mega-rich Saudi owners to snag Harrison as Leeds rejected the Toon's initial offer of £17m for the winger.
However, Howe's also eyeing 19-year-old winger Alan Virginius who he hopes to prise away from Ligue 2 side Sochaux with an £8m bid.