Sheffield Wednesday are showing an immediate interest in signing a newly-available free agent striker, says Fabrizio Romano.
Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed a relatively positive deadline day in the end, binging in Kristian Pedersen and Ian Poveda on loan from Swansea City and Leeds United respectively.
But a striker signing alluded Danny Rohl‘s side.
The Owls missed out on Duncan McGuire who joined Blackburn Rovers after a turbulent and eventful deadline day, but Sheffield Wednesday now have another no.9 on their radar in Dwight Gayle.
Sheffield Wednesday in race to sign Dwight Gayle
Gayle, 34, reached an agreement with Stoke City yesterday, to terminate his contract and become a free agent.
The former Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, and West Brom striker joined the Potters ahead of last season and went on to score three and assist five in 35 Championship outings, with 10 appearances and no goals in this current campaign.
But Romano is now reporting that Sheffield Wednesday, along with South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, Charlton Athletic, Derby County, and Ipswich Town are all showing an interest in Gayle following his Stoke exit.
Romano posted on X:
Gayle exit comes at perfect time for Danny Rohl
Sheffield Wednesday desperately needed to bring a striker to Hillsborough yesterday.
Their lack of cutting edge was painfully evident in the goalless draw vs Watford before deadline day, and missing out on McGuire looks like it’ll leave Rohl shorthanded for the remainder of the season.
But Gayle’s Stoke City exit comes at the perfect time for Wednesday, and despite his age and his poor recent showing at the bet365 Stadium, he remains a striker who’s previously proved prolific at Championship level.
In 145 second tier appearances, Gayle has scored 62 goals, with his best scoring season being the 2018/19 campaign on loan with West Brom where he netted 24 times in the Championship.
And Gayle also has 26 Premier League goals in 145 outings, so he definitely has the pedigree, and he would certainly add some experience to the Sheffield Wednesday front-line.
In his career, Gayle has 106 goals in 338 appearances.
Stoke weren’t playing well last season and for the large majority of this season, so it’s hard to judge Gayle too much for his lack of goals for the Potters.
But playing in a Sheffield Wednesday side that can play good football and that can create chances, as we saw them do against a strong Watford side in midweek, someone with Gayle’s nouse to get on the end of attacks could really complete this side.
Sheffield Wednesday go up against Huddersfield Town in the Championship this weekend.