Birmingham City set to miss out on Newcastle United transfer after Championship medical

Birmingham City and a host of other Championship clubs are expected to miss out on the signing of Newcastle United man Dwight Gayle. The 32-year-old looks set to sign for Stoke City, with The Telegraph claiming he has had the first part of his medical today [Wednesday] and that the deal could be announced in the next few days.

That follows StokeonTrentLive’s revelation this afternoon that Gayle had re-emerged as a transfer target, four years on from when they were beaten to his signature by West Bromwich Albion. It has been claimed the Baggies wanted to take him again this summer but BirminghamLive’ understands that was not the case.

Blues liked Gayle but a deal was always going to be difficult for a club which is working to bring down the wage bill rather than add players on Premier League wages.

Millwall have been one of the Championship clubs linked with Gayle in the last couple of weeks, as well as Middlesbrough, Blues, Huddersfield, Preston and Reading. The forward made no starts last season and has not ravelled with the Newcastle first team squad for pre-season this time around.

Toon boss Eddie Howe told Chronicle Live: “I’ve had a couple of conversations with Dwight. At the end of last season, we had a good conversation, and made him aware of the situation, for his own benefit, so he could take his career into its next phase.

"I was very honest with him. I said from day one, from my perspective, I had a great relationship with him, and I love working with him. He was brilliant for the team last year, and because of all those things, he deserved the utmost respect and honesty from me about the how the future lay for him, and I wanted to give him the best chance to find his next home."

Reports in the North