Nuno absolutely loves the ‘wonderful’ thing one West Ham star has just said

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Ambition is something Nuno Espirito Santo is only too happy to encourage at West Ham United, both when it comes to identifying and pursuing transfer targets and among the current crop of Hammers.

Hammers News understands that West Ham approached Real Madrid about taking one of the most highly-rated young strikers in the game to East London.

According to reports, the Premier League outfit are targeting players from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Manchester United and more during the winter window too.

But, talking of strikers, the man currently leading the line for West Ham United has lofty ambitions of his own. As the team sitting one point above the relegation zone present themselves as a viable option for Los Blancos starlets Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia, Callum Wilson is proving that concerns over his age or his longevity were wide of the mark.

Nuno Espirto Santo backs Callum Wilson’s England hopes after West Ham United run

Callum Wilson made Premier League history during last week’s 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth.

As the ex-Newcastle forward ‘magnificently’ fired two strikes past Andoni Iraola’s side, he became the first player in record history to score a first-half brace without completing a single pass. Clearly, even when he is on the periphery of the play, Wilson can still be relied upon to shake off the rust and pop up with the goods when the ball finally comes his way.

The veteran poacher has not given up hope of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel’s thinking ahead of the 2026 World Cup either.

And while his hopes still feel slim – the last of his nine caps came two years ago – the lack of genuine, in-form alternatives in England’s attack may leave the door ever-so slightly ajar.

“I think it’s wonderful he’s challenging himself to achieve such a major individual goal,” Nuno said with a smile when quizzed on Wilson’s ambitions during his Thursday press conference.

“I hope he succeeds, but he has to keep scoring for us. I hope he succeeds.”

Wilson wants to become a Premier League ‘Centurion’ with the Hammers

Wilson can move to within seven goals of Premier League ‘Centurion’ status if he finds the net against beleaguered Liverpool on Saturday. A World Cup spot is not the only target on his footballing bucket list.

“There’s a World Cup coming up,” the evergreen poacher told the Daily Mail a few days before his Bournemouth brace.

“When you believe in yourself so much, people think you’re borderline delusional. But there’s people that have been with me throughout my career that have seen me say something and I’ve then done it time and time again.

“I still, in my head, will believe until the final squad that if I have a run of games, I can put my best foot forward. “It might seem so far-fetched but football changes so quickly. As I’ve experienced in my career so many times, anything can happen.

“A few weeks is a long time in football, let alone six months.”

Evergreen striker is silencing the doubters and taking inspiration from Mo Salah

A case in point; back in July, Callum Wilson’s West Ham switch sparked much debate and plenty of concern from a fanbase worried about his lengthy injury rap sheet.

Flash forward to November, and he is averaging a goal a start in Hammers colours.

He has also scored more in the Premier League this season than Niclas Fullkrug, his £27 million teammate, has over the last 16 months.

“[After leaving Newcastle] I didn’t want to just give up and say, ‘OK, it’s easy for me to just go to a different country and collect a little bit of money’. That’s not my motivation,” adds Wilson.

“Motivation for me is getting into the ‘100 Club’. That’s the elite players in the league. There’s only 34 players to do it. That is why I wanted to stay in the Premier League. That’s why I’m here at West Ham.

“You hear a lot of outside noise, people talking about injuries. For me, that’s always been a motivation, in proving people wrong, even proving myself wrong sometimes.

“I’m 33. [Liverpool star] Mo Salah is the same age as me. It’s almost like saying about Mo Salah retiring. It’s the same thing. No one would ever even think that.”