---
title: "Newcastle: Lee Ryder clarifies Dwight Gayle situation"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-lee-ryder-clarifies-dwight-gayle-situation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-06-08T14:10:48Z"
modified: "2021-06-08T14:10:48Z"
---

# Newcastle: Lee Ryder clarifies Dwight Gayle situation

**Dwight Gayle agreed to sign a new deal at Newcastle United ‘a few weeks ago’, Lee Ryder has clarified in a fan Q&A for [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ashleys-confidence-newcastle-takeover-reversal-20758341?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar).**

### The lowdown

The [£4.5m-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dwight-gayle/profil/spieler/196522) striker made [20 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dwight-gayle/leistungsdaten/spieler/196522) in all competitions last season, scoring just one goal.

[The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2482047/2021/03/29/liverpool-finalising-deal-to-sign-ibrahima-konate-from-rb-leipzig/) reported at the end of March that Gayle had extended his stay at St James’ Park by signing a new three-year contract on reduced terms, but rumours around his future have continued to swirl.

Ryder’s [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-end-season-qa-20664739#comments-section) colleague Mark Douglas said he could still see the striker departing, while a [report](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dwight-gayle-championship-sides-wish-20710888) in the Sunday Mirror suggested that Chris Wilder was keen on bringing the 30-year-old back to West Brom if he is appointed manager at The Hawthorns.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”359496″\]

### The latest

As per [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ashleys-confidence-newcastle-takeover-reversal-20758341?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar), Ryder was asked to confirm Gayle’s contract situation by a Newcastle supporter who was still unsure after reading ‘mixed reports’.

The journalist claimed: “I was told it \[the new deal\] had been verbally agreed or done in principle”, adding that Gayle’s family are said to be “settled” on Tyneside, hence his inclination to stay.

The 30-year-old is currently on holiday, so an official announcement could be made after his return.

### The verdict

The real question mark here is whether Newcastle have moved to extend Gayle’s deal because they consider him a valuable part of the squad, or because they’re looking to protect his value. Of the striker’s 20 appearances last term, [16 came as a substitute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dwight-gayle/leistungsdaten/spieler/196522), which certainly doesn’t suggest that he is a central figure at St James’ Park.

It does have the air of a pragmatic step from a club which probably won’t be shedding its deadwood while it remains in limbo amid the [ongoing takeover saga](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/consortium-move-heaven-earth-newcastle-20753638).

***In other news, [Newcastle have been urged to recruit this partner to Callum Wilson](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/exclusive-pundit-eager-to-see-abraham-wilson-strikeforce-at-newcastle-united-transfers-rumour-chelsea-billy-gilmour-e140/).***