It’s fair to say Jarrod Bowen has not had much competition over the last two seasons when it comes to finishing top of West Ham United’s goalscoring charts.
The captain finished five clear of Tomas Soucek last term. The year before, when Jarrod Bowen hit 20 for the first time, Mohammed Kudus was his closest challenger on 14.
This time around, though, the battle to be named West Ham United’s top scorer might not be quite so much of a foregone conclusion.
With Lucas Paqueta up for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award on the back of his screamer against Chelsea in August, the Brazilian headed into the international break after three goals in three successive matches. A run he continued with a close-range header during Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Chile on Thursday.
Former England international Darren Bent, meanwhile, believes that Callum Wilson’s own well-placed header during last week’s stunning win at Nottingham Forest is a very exciting sign of things to come.
Darren Bent predicts Callum Wilson will score 15 Premier League goals at West Ham United
Graham Potter is confident West Ham have signed a ‘top player’ in Callum Wilson, albeit while acknowledging the injury record which resulted in his departure from Newcastle United as a free-agent earlier in the summer.
Wilson missed 114 Newcastle games across five years at St James’ Park, after all.
But if the 33-year-old can stay clear of the treatment table – admittedly that is an ‘if’ the size of Big Ben – well, his record speaks for itself.
His 47 Premier League goals in a Magpies shirt came from just 71 starts. He netted nine in nine during 2023/24, and 18 from 21 the year previously.
Bent, meanwhile, suggests that the eternally-talismanic Bowen might have some competition this time around, albeit you get the impression the captain will relish not having to suffer the goalscoring burden on his own.
“Listen, they have brought in some good players,” former Aston Villa, Tottenham and Sunderland striker Bent tells talkSPORT.
“Callum Wilson, if he stays fit, he will score goals for them. From now to the end of the season, if he doesn’t get an injury, he will score 15 goals. I don’t have any doubts about that.
“A fit Callum Wilson doesn’t go to West Ham, he’s still at Newcastle.”
Gabby Agbonlahor says Wilson is simply ‘better’ than Niclas Fullkrug
Wilson is one closer to meeting Bent’s target of 15. While yet to make his full Premier League debut in a West Ham shirt, the most controversial of their summer signings has surely given Graham Potter something to think about.
Especially with Niclas Fullkrug struggling to replicate his fine pre-season form in competitive matches.
Former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor, while also applauding the deals which brought Mateus Fernandes and El Hadji Malick Diouf to the London Stadium, felt that Callum Wilson is simply ‘better’ than £27 million Fullkrug.
The former might not have arrived to the same fanfare. But, for all the concerns about his fitness and his age, Wilson clearly hasn’t lost those penalty-area instincts.
“It’s not about how much you spend, it is what you spend the money on,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT himself. “I mean, they signed Niclas Fullkrug for near enough £30m. He runs like he’s got no hips! He can’t get around the pitch!
“Honestly, what a bad signing. Yes, he did well at the Euros [with Germany last summer] but he’s not a good enough player for me. That was a strange signing.
“You buy Fullkrug for [almost] £30 million but someone like Callum Wilson, a free transfer and a better player. A lot better player. A better striker, but didn’t cost them anything.
“Don’t just blow the money to keep the fans happy. What about deals?”
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