Dwight Gayle must decide on Bristol City move, Alan Pardew says
Friday 14 August 2015 11:35, UK
Dwight Gayle will be left to decide for himself whether he leaves Crystal Palace for Bristol City, Alan Pardew says.
Palace this week accepted Bristol City's offer of £6m, rising to a possible £8m, for the striker who started just 11 Premier League games last season.
And Pardew will not stand in the way of a deal, despite his insistence Gayle has the potential to score 20 goals a season in the top division.
"I've talked to Dwight," the Palace boss said. "He was a little upset last year, but it can be difficult to fit him into the way I play. He has 20 goals in him.
"He came to me at the start of the year and expressed a desire to move. A club has come in and now it's his decision.
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"Dwight can play in the Premier League, for sure. Having said that, Bristol City are a great club, with momentum. The decision is his."
Palace have recruited two strikers this summer in Patrick Bamford and Connor Wickham, while Marouane Chamakh should be fit for first-team action soon.
Pardew, speaking at his weekly press conference ahead of Sunday's game against Arsenal, said he has no plans to do further business before the transfer window shuts - even if Gayle does leave.
And on Chamakh, who featured just seven times under Pardew last season, he said: "He is close. He'll play for the Development side next week.
"I barely got to see him play last year. It will be like a new signing for us if we can get 30 games out of Chamakh."
One player who is all-but certain to start is Yohan Cabaye, who scored on his Palace debut at Norwich last week. The midfielder almost joined Arsenal two years ago.
"Two years ago Yohan wouldn't play (for Newcastle) at Manchester City because he thought he was going to Arsenal so it's quite ironic he's now here with us at Crystal Palace," Pardew said.
"He's a fantastic player, we're honoured to have him and he's definitely the level of Arsenal players.
"I don't think Arsene Wenger or anyone at Arsenal would disagree with that. We have a player who could definitely play in their team and that's a nice feeling for us."
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