The former Coventry City player could have joined Queens Park Rangers over Bournemouth.
England’s newest call-up could have been a Queens Park Rangers player were it not for Harry Redknapp’s scouts, the former R’s and Bournemouth manager has claimed. Callum Wilson’s early season form for Bournemouth saw the former Coventry City striker included in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad on Thursday.
And Redknapp tweeted afterwards: “Made up for Callum getting his England call up! I tried to sign him once you know!”
Linked within the post was footage of Redknapp and Wilson appearing together on BT Sport, in which the former announced: “I tried to sign him. I had him watched more than anyone.
“Andy Gray, who played at Tottenham, he told me somehow or the other told me about Callum at Coventry. I kept sending scouts every week – I was at QPR – they’ve gone and watched him.
“I’d say: he’s gone and scored two goals again. And he went: yeah, but I don’t… The next week, he scored again. How’d he go? Well, I’m not sure. Now when he see one or two of them scouts, (they say): I always fancied him, Harry – it was someone else!”
Wilson later made the jump from League One Coventry to a then Championship Bournemouth, who paid around £3 million for his services.
And having helped to fire the Cherries into the Premier League at the first time of asking, the 26-year-old has gone on to score 25 goals in 72 top flight appearances.
The Sun reported on Thursday that Wilson’s recent form has made him a £35 million January target for QPR’s west London neighbours, Chelsea.
Would the former Coventry City man have been a good addition for QPR?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
