West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson, according to TalkSport.
The 32-year-old has played just 57 minutes of Premier League football this season for the Magpies, with both back and hamstring injuries keeping him sidelined for much of the campaign.
The England international featured in Newcastle’s win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend, scoring the Magpies’ second to give him his first goal in all competitions this season.
Wilson is a name that gives all West Ham fans nightmares, with the forward having scored 12 goals in 15 games against the Hammers, the most goals against any team in his professional career.
But with Alexander Isak having an extraordinary season up front for Newcastle, scoring 19 goals in all competitions so far, it’s hard to see where Callum Wilson fits in Eddie Howe’s team.
West Ham have just secured the loan signing of Evan Ferguson, but with no obligation or option-to-buy clause in the contract, there’s a possibility the Hammers won’t be able to sign the 20-year-old this summer, meaning their attention might have to turn to an alternative option.
The Hammers’ other strikers, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug, are both out with long-term injuries, and with the pair being in their 30s, it’s hard to know how many seasons they have left in them in east London.
Is Wilson the man for West Ham?
The interest in Wilson just feels like a recipe for disaster, and an all-too-predictable signing.
You have to question the thought process behind wanting the player, with Wilson turning 33 this month, as well as already missing 26 games through injury this season.
This has always been a recurring issue with Wilson, who despite his impressive record of 88 goals in the Premier League, has always been plagued by injuries wherever he’s been.
Since Wilson’s been a Premier League player when he got promoted with Bournemouth in 2015, the striker has missed a total of 195 games because of injury.
You’d think that following the £27 million acquisition of Fullkrug and seeing the injury troubles he’s had, West Ham will have learned their lesson.
With the striker out of contract in the summer, West Ham would have the opportunity to sign him for free, but in truth, this feels like an uninspiring signing that West Ham should avoid.
