According to a recent report from The Northern Echo, striker Dwight Gayle is open to a permanent move away from Newcastle United this summer. The 28-year-old made the move to St James’ Park back in 2016 in a bid to help Rafa Benitez’s men return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, a task he helped them achieve only to struggle to prove his worth in the top-flight last term.

And the Magpies let him leave for Championship side West Brom on loan for this season, earning Salomon Rondon in return, and Gayle himself appears open to a permanent exit from the North East giants.

And while Darren Moore’s Baggies are almost certain to be front of the queue for the £9 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis must seek to ask the question about a player who would seriously strengthen his side in the attacking third of the pitch.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, while the Teessiders are very much in promotion contention at present given they are second in the Championship table, the fact that they have only scored 19 goals in their opening 17 league games could prove to be their undoing as the season wears on.

That tally is the fewest of any team currently sat in the top nine of the division, and while they have the best defensive record by some distance, Pulis must be wary that if the goals dry up, Boro will struggle to keep pace at the summit of the table.

And with Britt Assombalonga the only man so far to have reached five goals in a Middlesbrough shirt, promotion may prove to be beyond them this term, which is why Pulis must be ready to break the bank for another prolific goal-scorer to seriously strengthen his forward ranks – Gayle is that man.

The 28-year-old may have struggled to convince of his abilities in the Premier League over the years, but there are few better strikers in the Championship than the Englishman, having proven his worth to Peterborough United, Newcastle, and now West Brom over the years.

Be it the 13 goals in 29 games he recorded for Peterborough in the 2012/13 season, or indeed the 23 goals he bagged for Newcastle to help Benitez’s side win the title 18 months ago, it’s plainly obvious that Gayle is the sort of striker any team eyeing promotion would want in their side, not least goal-shy Middlesbrough.

And with nine goals in just 14 second tier appearances for West Brom this season, he continues to deliver in the Championship – he’d be an asset to Pulis’ side.

Yes, a January move will obviously be difficult, but were Boro to fail in their quest to win promotion to the Premier League this season, a summer raid on their North East rivals for Gayle is something they absolutely must carry out.

Middlesbrough fans… what do you think? Let us know!