Championship club priced out of January move for Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle amid Aston Villa, Leeds United & Nottingham Forest links

Steve Bruce this weekend underlined his desire to keep Newcastle United frontman Dwight Gayle on Tyneside beyond the end of the January transfer window.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United reacts to an injury during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Molineux on January 11, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United reacts to an injury during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Molineux on January 11, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Dwight Gayle of Newcastle United reacts to an injury during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Molineux on January 11, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

But that has not stopped a whole host of clubs being linked with the striker in the media, as well as price-tags being set and deal clauses mooted.

Following United’s battling draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday – courtesy of another Miguel Almiron strike – Bruce reiterated his message that Gayle is going nowhere this window.

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He said: “I’ve been asked this question time and time again. Why am I going to let him go on loan? And to where?

“It’s not possible, not with the problems we’ve had. I’ve said that from day one.

“I’ve waited for him for two and a half months because he’s been injured, then the team has done OK so he’s found it a struggle to get in.

“He’s not going anywhere, it’s quite simple.”

But a report in the Sun on Sunday claims Gayle does remain available - for the right price.

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And while reports circling of a £20million ‘obligation to buy clause’ had to form part of any loan deal for Gayle this month, it has been claimed United have set their up front asking price for Gayle, who started only his second game of the season at Molineux.

The Sun claim United want £8million up front for Gayle, who has been interesting Championship sides Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and West Brom, where he score 23 second tier goals last season.

But, the Baggies are set to rule themselves out of the race, with the £8million fee, coupled with having to get close to the striker's £50,000 per week wages, proving too rich for Slaven Bilic’s promotion-chasing side.

This could also be the case for Leeds, too, with finances tight this month, even though the Whites want a frontman to help see them over the line at the top of the Championship.

Gayle lasted just 28 minutes on his Newcastle first-team recall at the weekend. The 29-year-old is set for a scan to determine the extent of a fresh hamstring injury.