Ian Holloway’s search for a new striker saw the Crystal Palace boss snap up Dwight Gayle from Peterborough United for a club record fee of £4.5m last week. The 22-year-old arrives at Selhurst Park on a four-year deal and is the second player to bolster the Palace ranks this summer, following the acquisition of Stephen Dobbie from Brighton.
One of 12 managers reportedly chasing Gayle’s signature, Holloway lavished praise upon the new boy after securing the deal, indicating he’s likely to be a key figure for the season ahead:
“He’s got an opportunity now to go and enjoy his football and I think he’ll score goals at Premier League level, goals from certain people just keep happening, it doesn’t matter which level you start at, they just keep happening. I think the way he plays, the boy moves like a top player. It’s now about helping him deal with the top level against top defenders. My chairman went in with a brief – don’t come out of the room without getting him – and I’m thankful. He’s given us a goalscorer of the future in our team right now, which is priceless.”
The History
A product of the Arsenal youth academy, Gayle was released by the Gunners as a teenager and picked up by non-league outfit Stansted in 2009. Having scored 59 times for the club during 2010/11, the forward was then acquired by Dagenham and Redbridge but was farmed out on loan to Bishops Stortford, where his eye for goal came to the fore once more, with 42 strikes in a year.
Returning to Dagenham in August 2012, Gayle registered seven goals in 18 appearances before Peterborough acquired him on loan in November last year. The club then signed him on a permanent deal a couple of months later for a fee of around £500,000 but despite producing 13 goals and six assists in 29 appearances, Gayle was unable to prevent The Posh from slipping out of the Championship into League One.
The Prospects
With last season’s top scorer Glenn Murray potentially out for the season after sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage in the Championship semi-final play-off against former club Brighton, Gayle’s prospects of game time certainly look good, judging by his new manager’s comments.
Having featured in non-league football a mere 12 months ago, the Palace new boy is keenly aware of his turnaround in fortunes and is desperate to vindicate Holloway’s decision to hand him a top-flight chance:
“He’s a good manager and for him to point out my talent and my ability is a good feeling. I just hope I can repay him with goals for the club and help them stay in the Premier League. He’s built a very attacking side, which is what you need really…The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I’ve come from is a big achievement really. I’m just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well.”
Towards the end of last term, Holloway utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation, only opting for a couple of forwards up top when looking to inject a little extra attacking edge to his team’s play. Likely to be handed the lone role up top, Gayle has the fleet of foot and finishing skills to complement Holloway’s tactics, allowing Palace to sit deep and break quickly on the counter – in addition, his speed and work rate will also be essential in maintaining the high pressing game required.
With spot-kicks also expected to be part of his armoury in light of Murray’s injury, Gayle may well be targeted by Fantasy managers eyeing up a cheap third forward – granted, question marks remain over his ability to produce at the highest level but promoted forwards such as Grant Holt and Rickie Lambert have more than atoned for a lack of Premier League experience over the last couple of campaigns.
A price of around 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is anticipated and with home games against Sunderland, Swansea and Fulham in the opening eight Gameweeks, Gayle has the platform to pick up the points at Selhurst Park. With Holloway confirming he has no plans to bring Wilfried Zaha on loan from Man United, Palace enter this season without their two star men from the previous campaign – Gayle’s contribution looks more crucial than ever if his new club are to prove the doubters wrong and avoid the drop.
Further Reference
Dwight Gayle Wikipedia
Dwight Gayle Transfer Markt Page
Dwight Gayle You Tube
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