Vital Hammers News

Pundit urges sought-after £20m forward to snub West Ham interest for the wrong reason – opinion

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Former England international Kevin Phillips has urged AFC Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson to snub a potential transfer to West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur and join Newcastle instead.

Wilson has emerged as a potential summer target for the Hammers, Spurs and Magpies following the Cherries’ relegation from the Premier League, with the trio of clubs keen to add to their attacking ranks.

Bournemouth would be expected to demand a fee in the region of £20million for them to sell Wilson, who has reportedly informed his teammates that he wishes to leave the Vitality Stadium to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

The 28-year-old netted nine goals across all competitions during the 2019/20 Premier League season, and would represent the pacey centre-forward option West Ham are believed to be chasing should they move enough players on to fund any summer pursuits.

Phillips is not sure that West Ham would be the right destination for Wilson, who he feels would benefit more from moving to Newcastle where he would stand the best chance of playing regular top-flight football.

“If Harry Kane moved on, I would go to Tottenham but assuming Kane stays he will be the second striker,” Phillips told Football Insider.

“I know what it is like to play football up in the North East, Sunderland fans will not thank me for this but I would go to Newcastle if I was Wilson.

“If he was to go to Newcastle or West Ham he is going to play because [Sebastien] Haller and Joelinton have not exactly lit it up. Callum Wilson would have a fantastic chance of playing week in, week out and I would want that if I was moving.”

Would you welcome Wilson for £30m?

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Phillips’ reasons why a move to Newcastle over West Ham do not stand up to much scrutiny, especially as the Bournemouth ace would stand as much of a chance of playing regularly at the London Stadium as he would at St. James’ Park.

Haller is currently the Irons’ number one striker following his club-record move worth up to £45m sealed last summer, but did not take the Premier League by storm with seven goals and two assists in 32 appearances.

Haller can still develop in east London and improve his numbers, but any sign of weakness from the Frenchman will leave the Irons forced to deploy Michail Antonio through the middle – a role where either thrives (with four goals against Norwich City) or sinks (with just four goals in 17 other league outings this term).

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