- EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey
Hibs are set to win the race to sign former Newcastle United and Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle on a free transfer.
The Easter Road outfit have been scouring the free agent market after the summer transfer window closed last Friday night.
They failed to sign Luke McCowan on deadline day after the boyhood Celtic fan moved from Dundee to the Hoops in a deal worth a reported £1m.
But it’s a striker they have been pursuing of late with David Gray looking to reinforce his attacking firepower with an experienced option.
Gayle is the man Hibs are targeting and Not The Old Firm understands the Edinburgh giants are closing in on a deal to sign him this month.
Dwight Gayle set for Hibs move
The 34-year-old is currently a free agent and has been locked in talks with a host of English Football League clubs in recent weeks.
He also took part in the Professional Footballers’ Association free agent initiative which sees a number of unattached players take part in games as a squad.
The London-born star also appeared for Stockport County as a trialist in a game against Blackburn Rovers at the beginning of August – but nothing in the form of a move materialised.
But Gayle is now set to play outside of England for the first time in his career with a move north to the Hibees.
Gayle’s struggles in recent years
Gayle last played for Derby County between February and May this year but failed to win a contract extension in the summer.
He’s struggled to find the net consistently since the 2018/19 season when he scored 23 goals in 39 league appearances for West Bromwich Albion on loan from Newcastle.
Gayle remained at St James’ Park until 2022 before moving to Stoke City for two years. However, he scored a measly three league goals in 45 games and endured a barren run of failing to score across a period of two years.
As mentioned, Derby offered him a short-term deal earlier this year but he wasn’t convincing enough to stay on at Pride Park.
Now, he’s set for a fresh challenge with Hibs in the hope he can revive his stuttering career in Scotland.