West Bromwich Albion have been linked with a number of players and most of those rumours have been additions to the forward line, where the side are desperately lacking goals compared to their Championship competitors above them.

There has been one proven, prolific striker, and indeed a familiar face, with whom the Baggies have been linked for a number of months.

What's the word?

Former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer has had his say on the potential signing and return of Dwight Gayle in the January transfer window, believing that the player "might be an option" for Albion.

The 56-year-old told GIVEMESPORT: "West Brom will need something in the transfer window, whether they let him go out on loan, assuming Newcastle can do good business and get their targets in, they may let him go out on loan from January until the end of the season, that might be an option."

A loan deal to West Brom has been widely reported for the Newcastle striker over the last few months, and signing him would surely be the perfect remedy for the current situation in the goal-shy squad, given Gayle's record in the Championship.

The £37k-p/w marksman was hailed a "natural finisher" by his former manager Steve Bruce, who gushed: "Dwight is a natural goalscorer. His instincts, his movement, all of it is a natural goalscorer's. Left foot or right foot. Natural finisher."

Is it the right move?

Gayle's two most recent stints in the Championship saw him put away incredible numbers, for both his current club Newcastle and during his previous loan deal with Albion.

For the Magpies back in 2916/17, when they won automatic promotion as league winners, he scored 23 goals and bagged four assists. Then, after a season in the Premier League with the northeast club, he was loaned out to The Hawthorns in 2018, netting another 23 goals and bagging eight assists.

Some Baggies fans have been crying out for a player to come in and finish the chances which have been created for the side in the past few months given their abysmal conversion rate, especially when you consider that Grady Diangana, Jordan Hugill, Callum Robinson and Matt Phillips have just nine goals combined.

As a result, West Brom fans will surely be buzzing if they can secure a finisher like Gayle on a short-term deal to try and see Albion over the line to gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League for next season.

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