Palace accepted bid for Gayle, says Bristol City boss

The internet has been awash with Dwight Gayle talks in the past 24-hours or so that the striker, previously it was said he “definitely wouldn’t be leaving Crystal Palace” this summer, was on his way to Bristol City with Steve Cotterill very keen to bring him in.

The Eagles accepted a remarkable bid from the Championship club worth up to £8million on Monday.

However Gayle has been linked with the Canaries throughout this summer and, according to The Sun, is hoping the Robins’ interest will now also draw a bid from City.

Pardew has recruited strikers Patrick Bamford on loan from Middlesbrough and Connor Wickham from Sunderland, effectively ending Gayle’s involvement in plans for the season – although he did have a place on the bench in Saturday’s win at Norwich City.

However, Bristol City were unable to convince Gayle that a move to Ashton Gate was right for him, and the striker is reluctant to drop down a division as he wants to keep playing in the Premier League.

“He is a player we’d really like”, Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol.

However, on Thursday last week, the manager admitted that Gayle would not leave the club “unless the valuation is met”.

“He’s someone we’d like to have at the football club”, Cotterill said.

But a deal is far from certain as Gayle is yet to agree personal terms with the ambitious South West outfit.

Gayle found it hard to establish himself as a regular starter in Pardew’s side last season, but still scored 10 goals in 29 appearances.