Nuno Espirito Santo clearly has reservations about how much Callum Wilson is capable of contributing to the West Ham United cause.
But if Nuno is unwilling to bet survival on the whims of a 33-year-old centre-forward with an injury history longer than the Gettysburg Address, it appears there are other managers and other clubs taking the ‘age is just a number’ approach.
David Moyes’ Everton are watching the situation closely, according to reports. The Toffees have made a move for Youssef En-Nesyri, the striker eternally linked with West Ham United, but Callum Wilson has emerged as a low-cost, short-term alternative.
Callum Wilson is in talks to leave West Ham…
What would YOU do with Wilson had you been calling the shots? 🤔
Transfer specialist Ben Jacobs claims there is interest from Celtic and Saudi Arabia. The Hammers may have understandable concerns about letting Wilson join a direct relegation rival in Burnley, though.
But in a funny twist of fate, months after Michail Antonio made way for Wilson at West Ham and even left him his old number nine shirt, could the former have opened the door for the latter at Leicester City?
Leicester City are keen on West Ham United misfit Callum Wilson
According to Give Me Sport, Leicester have expressed an interest in Wilson too.
Marti Cifuentes’ side have underperformed badly this term, sitting 12th in the Championship. They have also scored the joint-fourth fewest goals in the division’s top half.
In pursuit of an experienced centre-forward, Antonio spent the festive period training with the 2016 Premier League champions. However, Cifuentes confirmed in early-January that an injury setback had Leicester pulling out of a potential deal for West Ham’s all-time record Premier League marksman.
“Michail got a setback in the training,” Cifuentes said. “It’s a small injury. It’s a pity. That probably means that we will not be able to continue the process we started.
“The window is open. We’re going to try to see what other options are available.”
That ongoing search, it seems, now has the Foxes sniffing out the Hammers coop. Wilson the latest 30-something poacher on their radar.
Ahead of Saturday’s London derby against Tottenham, Nuno indicated again that Callum Wilson is free to leave West Ham following the additions of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe. Even before the Hammers spent £44 million on two new centre-forwards, Nuno had taken to starting Lucas Paqueta or Jarrod Bowen up top with Wilson often left on the bench.
Martin O’Neill plays down Wilson to Celtic claims
Speaking at his own press conference, returning Celtic legend Martin O’Neill indicated that Wilson is unlikely to move north of the border
“We are in search of those elusive goal scorers, but we’re not the only team,” O’Neill said, who returned for a second interim spell in the space of a few months following the ill-fated Wilfried Nancy era.
Lucas Paqueta could MISS Spurs v West Ham… 🤔
Who would you pick to start in his No 10 role instead?
“I hadn’t thought about [Wilson]. Not that he’s not a very, very fine, a very fine player, but I thought he was going elsewhere.”
Burnley, perhaps? Or maybe Wilson could go one step further than his close friend Antonio and prove himself fit enough for a short-term deal at Leicester.
“Leicester City made a call. Burnley are believed to be in the mix as well,” Jacobs tells The Football Terrace. “All of these clubs are first trying to [work out] what would Wilson actually be asking for because his wages, as it stands, are relatively high.
“They’re obviously speaking to the Wilson side and to West Ham.”
West Ham could help Wilson by letting him leave for free
Jacobs reiterates that West Ham could opt to terminate Wilson’s contract. Thus, easing the pressure for a deal to be agreed quickly with his next club.
“Naturally, if you’re a Celtic or even a Saudi club like Al Shabab who don’t have the kind of PIF budget [funded by the Saudi government], it’s more beneficial for them to wait for West Ham and Wilson to terminate than to approach Wilson as a free agent,” Jacobs adds.
“Whereas, if a nominal fee is required to West Ham United and Wilson’s wages are still high, that presents extra layers of complication that might put certain clubs off. So that’s where we’re at with Callum Wilson at the moment.
“But the expectation is, one way or the other this winter, he will end up leaving West Ham United because Taty Castellanos and Pablo have both arrived.”
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