Fulham are planning to move for Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle if their attempts to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic fail, according to a Daily Mirror article tonight.
The Premier League new boys have made Mitrovic, who spent a hugely successful loan spell at Craven Cottage last season, their top summer recruitment target but they have yet to finalise the £20m. The Serbian striker, who has made plain his desire to make a permanent move to join his compatriot Slavisa Jokanovic in west London, faces reporting for pre-season training at Newcastle on Wednesday when he returns from a post-World Cup holiday – despite being told by Magpies boss Rafa Benitez that is surplus to requirements at St. James’ Park.
The Mirror claims that personal terms between Mitrovic and Fulham have been agreed ahead of the proposed transfer, but the specifics of the final transfer fee and whether it will be paid in full up front or in installments are still up in the air. The failure to land Mitrovic, who scored 12 goals in 20 appearances last term as the Whites won promotion via the Championship play-offs, and leave Fulham seriously short of firepower ahead of their return to the top flight.
Fulham have had Gayle on their radar for a long time, with the former Crystal Palace striker coming close to joining the Whites on two occasions. The Cottagers earmarked him as a potential loan option to spearhead their attack in the Championship whilst he was still at Crystal Palace and offered £15m for the speedy striker at the tail end of the summer transfer window last year, but that deal fell through. The 28 year-old has scored 29 goals in 71 appearances in two seasons on Tyneside, managing six in 30 games last season,
