With things having turned around considerably for Newcastle United in recent weeks, some of the focus from those behind the scenes at the club will surely be focused on enjoying a summer overhaul in the transfer window.

The Magpies embarked on an impressive spending spree in January, bringing in the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier, among others, and there will be a genuine hope among the club's fan-base that they can take that next step come the summer.

But while new signings will grab all the attention, Eddie Howe will also be keen to streamline his squad, and one player who he must finally permanently offload, is Dwight Gayle.

The striker has been very much a bit-part player for the Tyneside club this season both under Howe and predecessor Steve Bruce, playing just five games of Premier League football and totalling a measly 27 minutes of action.

Despite the lack of game-time, Howe has been quick to praise Gayle for his work off the pitch, and insisted he still has a big part to play in the remainder of this season.

Speaking just last month, the Magpies boss said: "Dwight is another player who has shown a great attitude behind the scenes, with his work. He has a big role to play in the team. He's a very experienced player.

"You know if Dwight gets one chance, that could be the key moment in our season to keep us in the Premier League. Dwight could be that player who delivers in the crucial moment so he needs to be ready for his chance."

While Howe does a fine job there of keeping one of his fringe players on side, Gayle certainly isn't a player who the Magpies should be hanging their hat on as a front-line option going into next season.

The likes of Chris Wood and Callum Wilson are proven Premier League options, but you would feel the Tyneside club could offload Gayle and bring in a far more exciting, and younger, talent to supplement what they already have - talks of course were held with Stade Reims sensation Hugo Ekitike back in the January transfer window for example.

And, over his numerous years at the club - excluding his loan spell at West Brom - the £40k-a-week earning striker has cost Newcastle over £10m in wages.

When you then add in his £10m transfer fee, Gayle's time at St James' Park has been somewhat of an expensive nightmare, while eyebrows were raised last year when it was revealed the club had handed him a new three-year deal to keep him until 2024.

Former Leeds man Noel Whelan said: "I’m shocked to hear he’s been given a new deal, because I do not think Steve Bruce will be there until the end of the year.

"Newcastle are deep in a relegation battle so to hand out contracts now, when everything is up in the air, I find that pretty bewildering. It is not as if he has been given much game time. How can you hand out a three-year contract to a player who has barely played, under a manager who might not be there?"

This summer has to be one where Newcastle try and bridge the gap to the Premier League's elite, and getting rid of a wildly under-performing and rarely-used Gayle has to be on the agenda too.

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