Fulham eyeing move for West Brom loan star Dwight Gayle

The Cottagers, who have already been relegated from the Premier League, are

reportedly interested in the 21-goal London-born striker.

Gayle signed a new deal with improved wages with parent club Newcastle United before he joined the Baggies on loan for the season.

He still has two years left on his contract with the Magpies, but has hinted that he’d be open to staying at The Hawthorns next season after an enjoyable campaign.

His higher wages could put that in jeopardy should the Baggies fail to win promotion this season, and now Fulham are reportedly ready to swoop. The London club were keen on Gayle in January 2018 before they signed Aleksandar Mitrovic from Newcastle, and they see him as the perfect striker to get them out of the Championship at the first time of asking.

The Baggies hold an important bargaining chip in Salomon Rondon, who Newcastle want to keep after scoring 10 goals on loan this season.

Rondon has a £16.5million release clause in his Albion contract, which has one year left to run, if the Baggies don’t go up.

It goes up to more than £20m if promotion is achieved.

Rondon turns 30 in September and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is reluctant to stump up so much cash for players his age.

And so the Baggies could use the Venezuelan to broker a permanent deal for Gayle in the summer.

However, according to reports in the North East, Newcastle are also keen on Fulham’s Tom Cairney, and may use Gayle as a make-weight in a deal for the attacking midfielder.

Gayle scored a hat-trick at the weekend to move onto 21 goals for the season.

When he was asked if he sees a future at The Hawthorns beyond this season, he said: “Yes, of course.”