West Ham and Newcastle United have joined Tottenham in the battle to sign £20 million-rated Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, according to Sky Sports.
Football really is the most fickle mistress.
Just one year ago, Wilson was leading the line for Gareth Southgate’s England in the UEFA Nations League finals after hitting a career-best 14 Premier League goals for an exciting, free-wheeling Bournemouth side.
12 months on, the 28-year-old has the bitter taste of relegation in his mouth.
If the 2018/19 campaign was a dream one for Wilson, then 2019/20 has been a nightmare.
He scored just seven times, his lowest tally since 2016/17 and, thanks to a dreadful run of form since the turn of the year, Eddie Howe’s Cherries have been plucked from the Premier League tree.
But, according to reports, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham are willing to overlook Wilson’s struggles in front of goal, not to mention those niggling injuries, with the late-blooming centre-forward likely to be offered the chance to re-build his reputation on the biggest of stages.
Bournemouth, who are also expected to lose Nathan Ake, David Brooks and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, will demand £20 million – a sizeable fee but much, much less than they were asking for this time last year.
Sky claims that Chelsea were willing to pay a staggering £50 million as recently as September 2019.
Wilson cannot take all the blame for Bournemouth’s relegation, of course. With Ryan Fraser out of form and both David Brooks and Josh King struggling with injuries, the supply line simply dried up on the South Coast.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
