West Ham have recently registered interest in young Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson as we look to bolster our attacking options for next season. This will be a comprehensive player profile with the added input of Coventry Telegraph writer Aidan McCartney.
The rapid rise of Wilson has been breath-taking to watch. The 23 year-old only established himself in the first team at League One Coventry City two years ago. Despite a season fragmented by injury, he managed 22 league goals and ended up as the third top scorer in League One. After Bournemouth offered Coventry £3.5m, a share of any sell-on fee plus three players on loan, Wilson left his hometown club with a heavy heart. He wrote an emotional goodbye message to fans of the Sky Blues explaining that it was for the greater good of the club and that Coventry would always have a place in his heart.
Since joining Bournemouth, Wilson has continued to impress and his tally of 20 league goals has played an instrumental role in firing the Cherries to promotion to the Premier League. A spell of just two seasons has seen the England under-21 international transform from an effectively unknown quantity to one of English football’s most discussed prospects.
I asked Aidan McCartney if he believed that Wilson could reciprocate his impressive goals record in his next footballing chapter – the Premiership. His response indicated a positive review:
“Wilson has all of the natural attributes to be a success in the Premier League. His blistering pace is likely to cause even the best defenders problems while his movement, composure and finishing ability make him lethal in one on one situations.” Wilson is often, and deservedly, admired for his speed, which has already proved too much for League One and Championship defenders to handle. But his game undoubtedly stretches beyond pace.
McCartney adds that his speed is used intelligently, both with and without the ball. Strength, hold-up play and a finished product can also be added to the list of Wilson’s capabilities making him a complete forward. And if 20 league goals in his debut Championship year was not impressive enough, he has also won a remarkable 11 penalties which has really boosted Bournemouth’s promotion push.
Wilson’s fantastic season also propelled him into reckoning for the England under-21 side for which he has made one appearance. McCartney is also optimistic about Wilson’s future prospects of playing senior international football. Whilst reminding me that age is still very much on his side, McCartney added that Wilson “appears to hold differing qualities to most of the English strikers coming into the Three Lions reckoning”.
This could play into Wilson’s hands should Hodgson start to take notice of the Bournemouth frontman; he offers an alternative style of attack to the likes of Charlie Austin, Danny Ings, Saido Berahino and our very own Andy Carroll, who all may consider themselves to be on the England peripheries. Although McCartney admits it may take a couple of years of performing in the Premiership to overtake these rival options, he is wholly confident that Wilson will become the first Coventry-born player to play for England in a staggering 59 years.
Callum Wilson definitely seems like a worthwhile target to have on our wish list but we are not lone admirers of the youngster. Today’s reports (Daily Mirror) suggest that we are one of ten Premier League clubs to be keeping tabs on Wilson, whilst elsewhere the hopes of securing him were somewhat slashed by Sam Allardyce commenting that he would be too expensive and Bournemouth declaring confidence of keeping him at the club. Seen as Wilson will be playing top flight football next season, the question now concerns where he might end up. With a quoted price of £12m, I imagine West Ham – along with the majority of interested parties – would be priced out of the race for his signature.
Wilson was born and raised in Coventry and holds great allegiance with the Sky Blues, so a move to Aston Villa would probably be unlikely and he is also a lifelong Arsenal fan, which should quiet Tottenham’s emerging interest. Chelsea is another possible destination but it is probably widely agreed that this would be a poor career move with McCartney suggesting that a move to the champions-elect would mean a more minor role and less chance of improving as a footballer.
I have two viewpoints and an excruciatingly torn final opinion on Wilson’s future. My heart, governed by West Ham United, would love to see him at Upton Park next year and I believe he could prove to become an integral part of our squad in years to come. My head, however, believes that Wilson needs to stay at Bournemouth for his own personal benefit. A West Ham outfit under Allardyce would see Wilson pigeonholed as a winger and hamper his development and even without Allardyce, he might get limited game time if Valencia, Sakho and Carroll are all fit.
Wilson is a terrific prospect and a fantastic individual, who is cherished by Bournemouth fans as a prize asset. It is much more logical for him to be a star man at the south coast side as they prepare for their debut Premier League campaign. McCartney also agrees with this, adding that “Wilson is very comfortable there and seems to be really enjoying his football under Eddie Howe”. If I was Wilson’s agent, I would strongly advise on staying put for at least one more season.
