Newcastle United transfer stance emerges as West Ham United target Callum Wilson
Newcastle United would prefer Callum Wilson to sign for a Saudi Pro League side amid interest from West Ham, according to HITC.
The online source reported [26 June] that the Magpies have held talks with Saudi teams over a deal for the 32-year-old striker, with a move there more likely to generate profit and cover their wages in full.
While the Hammers are keeping tabs on Wilson, his injury record looks to be a slight issue when it comes to the price tag, with The Daily Mirror [25 June, page 54] stating a fee of over £10million has been set.
Newcastle United targeting profit as West Ham United want Callum Wilson
Having joined from Bournemouth on a £20million fee in 2019, as per BBC Sport, Newcastle will find it very difficult to recoup that money unless they go to Saudi Arabia this summer.
With the Hammers already unsure about a £10million transfer fee for Wilson, mainly due to his age and constant injury issues, there are few clubs that will be willing to pay that much.
While he was second-choice to Alexander Isak last term, he would have been expected to make more than nine Premier League starts due to his Premier League calibre, but his campaign was riddled with setbacks.
Considering the issues with Michail Antonio’s fitness at the London Stadium, it would seem a bit pointless to add another name to the team’s medical list by signing Wilson this summer.
He notched 67 goals in 187 matches for Bournemouth before netting 48 goals in 108 games for the Magpies, so there is no doubt over the striker’s ability in front of goal.
However, the Hammers need to ensure goals this season, with only Jarrod Bowen getting double digits in goals and Mohammed Kudus the nearest player to him with eight.
Julen Lopetegui will be calling out for an out-and-out striker to be signed this summer, and Wilson is not going to be the ideal candidate to fill that role.
In other West Ham news, Ben Johnson has completed a medical as a transfer news update emerges from London Stadium.
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