Neil Warnock has admitted that Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis could hand Dwight Gayle a Crystal Palace lifeline.

Palace are understood to have tabled a £6million bid for France forward Gomis, but face competition from at least five Premier League rivals.

Manager Warnock believes a more “physical presence” like Gomis could add “another dimension” to his Selhurst Park strike force.

Warnock had warned “disappointing” Gayle to improve to safeguard his Palace future, but now concedes a new addition may hand the former Peterborough striker a timely boost.

“We’ve made offers for a number of strikers, especially when Chamakh’s been missing we’ve lacked that physical presence,” said Warnock, who has already confirmed interest in Gomis.

“We’ve looked at two or three strikers from home and abroad, and we’re hoping to get one of those over the line in the first couple of weeks.

“They’ve got to be good enough, they’ve got to be better than what we have.

“We’ve got some good strikers at the club, but we’ve got to be able to adapt, to change the system as well, and so we’ve got to try to find the strikers that can do that.

“That’s what we’re looking for; to give us another dimension.”

Gayle became Palace’s record signing when he joined the south London club for £4.5million in July 2013, but has struggled for regular action under new boss Warnock this term.

Former Sheffield United manager Warnock said the 24-year-old’s Palace career could receive a shot in the arm should he recruit another striker that would allow a change of formation.

Warnock has favoured 4-2-3-1 with Marouane Chamakh as the first-choice lone striker, with Gayle struggling to make an impact in cameos off the bench.

Morocco forward Chamakh’s thigh injury will leave Fraizer Campbell and Kevin Doyle competing to start up front against Southampton on Boxing Day, with Gayle slipping further down the pecking order.

Warnock’s criticism of Gayle’s lackluster training efforts following the 1-1 draw with Stoke on December 13 suggested the pacy forward could be heading for the Selhurst Park exit in the January transfer window.

The Eagles manager has now admitted however that a battering ram target man could offer Gayle a new lease of life in south London.

Palace have slipped to the cusp of the Premier League’s relegation zone after just one win in 11 matches in all competitions, with Warnock admitting he needs to strengthen in January to boost the club’s survival fight.

“He’s trained well this week, Dwight,” said Warnock.

“It’s not just Dwight it’s the system as well.

“There might be an opportunity to change the system and involve Dwight.

“I think Dwight has to play with another striker.

“I think then you’ll see the best out of Dwight, he feeds off people like that.

“So we have to have a plan B as well, and we might have the opportunity when Jedinak is not here in January because of the Asia Cup, to look at that.”

Warnock has not given up hope of securing “one or two” new faces as early as January 3, the day the transfer window reopens.

The 66-year-old revealed the club have made bids for “three or four” left backs, with a B£1.8million bid for Palermo’s Achraf Lazaar already widely reported.

“We’re in for three or four left backs, I’d like a natural left-footer there,” said Warnock.

“Joel Ward is doing brilliantly there, but I can use Joel elsewhere too, especially when Jedinak is away in January, because he can play in midfield and at right-back too.

“So we’d like a left-back as soon as possible.”