West Ham United and Newcastle United missed out on European football last season.
The two parties are going to be aiming to return to the elite in these next 12 months and the summer transfer window is going to dictate how ambitious they are.
The Hammers have a new manager in the dugout in Julen Lopetegui and you suspect he is going to be backed by some big names coming in.
Whereas Newcastle’s Saudi-led ownership have gone from the Champions League to no Europe at all in next to no time.
In some cases, the much-hated Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP) are proving to be a stumbling block.
A team like Newcastle would go transfer crazy if they were allowed to do what they wanted, but now they have to think outside of the box, including possibly selling some first-team players.
Sources have told HITC that Alexander Isak is a big no-no and there is encouragement from within the club that he will sign a new deal.
The Swedish star had his injury issues last term, but still managed to score an incredible 21 Premier League goals.
But his partner in crime, Callum Wilson, played just over 900 minutes of Premier League football and is now being tipped to leave.
Darren Bent thinks Wilson can still play on the big stage and backed him for a transfer to West Ham if Michail Antonio leaves.
The former Premier League hitman added that he is a ‘big fan’ of Wilson and he is ‘up there with the best’ as he nears 100 Premier League goals, as he told talkSPORT (24/06/24 at 6:40 am).
Callum Wilson at West Ham United
“Yeah, close, you are getting really close to that, close to that magic 100 mark,” said Bent about Wilson being on 88 Premier League goals. “They seem to be letting anyone in nowadays. I think there was a gap for a while where no one was close to it. Then we had Mane going in there. Salah and Sterling. People like that.
“But Callum (Wilson). I am a big fan of his. I know he has had his injury problems throughout his career. But he is someone, if you look at his career and goals-per-minute ratio. He is up there with the best of them. Always seems to be scoring goals consistently. He even got nine goals last season and he only made 20 appearances. That’s almost 1 in 2. Always a 1 in 2 man. I can understand Newcastle thinking ‘we are pushing for the Champions League and we need someone who can consistently stay fit’. They can’t have two strikers as well. Isak was better last season, but he has had his injury problems. Callum could still be playing for a Premier League side.
On Wilson joining West Ham: “Age will come into it,” responded Bent. “What is he 32? You have Michail Antonio. If you are going to move him on, then fair enough, but I don’t think you can have both of them there.”
West Ham United should learn from Danny Ings lesson
Unless West Ham have plans to bring in another proven and young goalscorer, then they shouldn’t consider bringing in Wilson.
You have Danny Ings on board and his struggles since moving from Aston Villa have been clear.
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The last thing you want is three strikers over the age of 30. It’s not needed and it would prove the abject record West Ham have had with strikers for years and years now.
Wilson might still end up leaving Newcastle, but the London Stadium shouldn’t be his next destination.
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