It's no secret that West Brom need a striker to push their promotion charge to the next level in the second half of the season.

The Baggies currently sit in third place in the Championship, six points off the automatic promotion places having scored just 29 goals in their 21 games so far this season.

The current top goalscorer for the club is winger Karlan Grant, who has bagged nine times in 21 appearances, which is some way off golden boot leader Aleksandar Mitrovic's 21 in 20 for league leaders Fulham. First-choice striker Callum Robinson has managed just three goals himself, but has chipped in with six assists too.

So with the January transfer window approaching, several names have been linked with the role of West Brom centre forward for the second half of the season. The two names that are at the top of the list are Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis and former Baggies forward Dwight Gayle, currently at Newcastle.

While Davis is 23-years-old, he is relatively young in terms of playing experience. He has just six goals in his senior career and has played for just nine minutes in total this season for the Midlands side. He is keen for a loan move in January, but West Brom have another more reliable target than the £45k-per-week unproven Davis and must avoid such a potentially disastrous signing.

Gayle previously spent the 2018/19 season on loan at The Hawthorns and scored 23 goals in 39 appearances in the Championship as the Baggies and has been described as "a natural goalscorer" by Steve Bruce in the past.

Gayle has found chances hard to come by with the Magpies, earning just 21 minutes of action in the Premier League this season. While he's not played regularly in recent years, goalscoring instinct is something that never leaves you.

The £3.6m-rated forward has always had good movement and is good with both feet and his head, while being proven in the division and having a history with the club. He will likely push for a move away from the club with Newcastle having big funds to spend following their PIF takeover, and it seems like a match made in heaven.

Gayle needs game time, West Brom need a goalscorer. Make it happen Ismael.

AND in other news, Masi reveals Ismael's January transfer window plans.