With less than 72 hours left in the summer transfer window, the amount of fairly dodgy rumors surrounding potential transfers are reaching a fever pitch. So far, we’ve had Liverpool fans literally crashing a flight tracker system in an attempt to see if Virgil Van Dijk is headed to Merseyside, there is still plenty of time left to see just how much money teams are willing to waste on panic buying at the deadline.
Message I'm getting is that #lufc will only do deals this week if they are right for them. Won't panic buy.
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) August 29, 2017
And since Leeds United are sitting on a £15 million transfer war chest from the sale of Chris Wood to Burnley and are looking for a replacement for Wood in the transfer window, lots of rumors will be popping up surrounding the sale of a striker to Leeds.
Newcastle want £18m from Leeds for striker Dwight Gayle #NUFC #LUFChttps://t.co/QRPFCHNEXX
— Daily Star Sport (@DailyStar_Sport) August 29, 2017
Deadline week latest: Leeds are not looking at Dwight Gayle, Danny Ings or Nahki Wells. Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Pawel Cibicki yes...#lufc
— Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) August 29, 2017
There are competing reports currently floating around about the amount of interest that Leeds have in Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle. While local journalists are panning the links, national papers are now claiming that Newcastle has asked Leeds for £18 million for Gayle’s signature.
Gayle is a proven Championship performer, so him being linked to Leeds isn’t exactly a stretch of the imagination, but it kind of breaks with almost all of the business that Leeds have done so far this transfer window. Victor Orta has almost exclusively looked overseas for players, only snapping up free transfers or loan deals on the domestic market. With the crazy inflation of transfer prices that has taken place, it’s no surprise that the club will tap into their international scouting network to identify talents.
Gayle might be a special case, however, given his proven ability at the Championship level. The 26 year old striker had an impressive goal-scoring record last year for Newcastle, scoring 23 goals in 32 appearances, and scored 13 goals in 29 appearances for Peterborough United in the 2012-13 season in the Championship. His Premier League record is less impressive, however, with a season high of seven goals for Crystal Palace in three years in the Premier League.
But £18 million? You’re having a laugh, Newcastle. That’s an absurd amount of money for a player that the Tyneside club likely needs to replace anyway. If the price was closer to £10 million, it might become worthwhile, but the current rumored fee is insane. Leeds, if they are actually interested, should look elsewhere until Newcastle comes to their senses.