Assessing Which Premier League Club Callum Wilson Should Join This Summer
By Max Haley
Callum Wilson was the main reason Bournemouth stayed in the Premier League for so long, but now that the Cherries have been relegated it's time for him to move on.
Showing real loyalty to Bournemouth, Wilson turned down big moves to Chelsea and Tottenham before signing a new four-year deal last summer. A lot can change in a year, though.
Wilson struggled for goals in a timid Bournemouth side and the fee the Cherries are likely to receive for the striker will be minuscule compared to the £75m they were apparently demanding 18 months ago.
With that price tag dropping, here are five Premier League clubs who should look to sign the England international this summer.
1. Crystal Palace
Poor old Christian Benteke has entirely forgotten how to score - unless he's playing against Chelsea. The Belgian forward has developed his game in terms of bringing teammates into play, but at the cost of his goalscoring ability.
Crystal Palace's main goalscorer last season was Jordan Ayew, who netted nine times in the league. 25 players scored more than the Ghanaian and only Norwich scored fewer goals than the Eagles, so up front is clearly where they need an upgrade.
Wilson is a proven Premier League striker with a good goalscoring record - bar last season. He could come into this Palace side and represent the kind of threat going forward they need, especially with Wilfried Zaha angling for a move away.
Palace would be silly not to go for it and Wilson could be their main man.
2. Sheffield United
Sheffield United were phenomenal last season and defied all expectations by finishing ninth, but one area in which they could improve is up front. The Blades scored fewer goals than Wilson's Bournemouth and their top scorers were Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie.
Mousset previously struggled to get into Bournemouth's team, with Wilson keeping him out of the side. The Englishman may be keen to follow the footsteps of his former teammate by making the trip to Yorkshire.
Wilson would thrive at Sheffield United, though it's doubtful whether the club fancy the deal.
3. Tottenham
How long have Tottenham needed a back-up striker for Harry Kane? Son Heung-min is a wide-forward ideally, Fernando Llorente was decent but nothing special, and Vincent Janssen was downright awful.
Kane picks up at least one serious injury a season and that is largely because he plays week in, week out. Spurs have been linked with Wilson a number of times, but with the price around £10m it really seems a no-brainer. Get him in.
4. West Ham
West Ham are another club who are regularly linked with Wilson. Just last summer he was one of a number of strikers they targeted before Sebastian Haller was brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Haller hasn't been a flop but he has struggled. He flourished in a front two in Germany alongside Luka Jovic, and perhaps in a front two with Wilson he could thrive again.
However, Michail Antonio has found form recently and if the Hammers were to switch to a front two he would deserve a spot. However, David Moyes seems to prefer a lone-striker system, so two up top seems unlikely.
Could be exciting, but it won't happen.
5. Newcastle
Once again, Newcastle need a striker. Can anyone remember the last time the Magpies had a prolific goalscorer?
Steve Bruce forked out £40m for Joelinton last summer, and the big Brazilian has been nothing short of a flop. Newcastle will almost certainly look to sign a striker this window and the Daily Mail has suggested Wilson is one of the players they are targeting.
Signing Wilson would make so much sense. He has been a regular goalscorer in the top flight and he won't be too expensive - which is important following the collapse of Newcastle's takeover bid.
Newcastle would lap him up, but Wilson may need some convincing.