Crystal Palace have sealed the future of their once-record signing Dwight Gayle, by tying the Englishman down on a lengthy contract.
According to the Daily Express, Gayle, 26, has seen a turnaround in his Selhurst Park fortunes and been awarded a new four-year contract.
Following Gayle’s goal against West Ham last weekend, as well as putting a good shift in on the training pitch, Eagles boss Alan Pardew has changed his mind about the striker, who he attempted to sell last summer, to no avail.
Gayle, who has made just eleven Premier League appearances this season, came close to a move to Bristol City but he rejected the chance to play for the Championship club as he wanted to prove himself at Selhurst Park.
Pardew said:
Gayle’s probably our most natural finisher and we’re going to need him. He looks bigger, stronger, more muscular. That period he spent out injured working in the gym [earlier in the season] may have actually helped him.
Gayle will be competing with Emmanuel Adebayor, Marouane Chamakh and Connor Wickham for a starting spot – but the natural finisher should have no problem getting in the team if he can stay injury free and pick up some form in what remains of this season.
Before this new contract, Gayle had just one year remaining at Palace, and would have been able to move away from Selhurst Park for free in the summer of 2017.
