Gayle has been deemed surplus to requirements at St James’ Park by boss Eddie Howe and the club are open to letting him leave this summer.
The striker has attracted interest from a host of Championship clubs including the likes of Boro, Watford and Birmingham City.
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder is keen on signing Gayle on loan but his high wages have proved to be a stumbling block while Watford have held talks with the Newcastle hierarchy over taking him to Vicarage Road.
And the Hornets are now in a better position than Boro to secure Gayle’s services, as they will also be boosted by the guaranteed parachute payments following their relegation from the Premier League.
Watford have witnessed an exodus of players this summer having lost their top flight status and a new striker is a priority for new boss Rob Edwards.
The Hornets manager has identified Gayle as a potential target and is keen to beat rivals to his signature with the likes of Middlesbrough also chasing him.
It remains to be seen where Gayle ends up playing next season with Newcastle looking to shed a huge part of his salary from their wage bill.
