According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are willing to pay £50million to sign Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson if a proposed move for Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain falls through.
The experienced Argentinian international is currently on-loan at AC Milan from the Bianconeri. However, Blues boss Maurizio Sarri is reported to have his heart set on signing the striker, despite concerns from chief executive Marina Granovskaia. The striker is reportedly unsettled after a temporary loan move, but his presence at AC Milan complicates any potential deal for Chelsea.
Wilson looks to be the alternative
The same Sky report claims that Sarri’s second choice if they fail to sign Higuain is England international Wilson. The 26-year-old has made a big impression this season in the top-flight, scoring ten Premier League goals.
It looks like he has finally got over the horrendous injuries of the past and is starting to fulfil his potential in the English top-flight. Wilson may not have the same pedigree in the European game as Higuain, but he is a good finisher and the sort of striker who would thrive in a team like Chelsea’s.
He is a different sort of player to Spanish forward Alvaro Morata, who looks to be heading for the Stamford Bridge exit in the near future. Wilson has the touch of aggression a Premier League striker needs to score goals.
Bournemouth don’t want to sell
Understandably, Wilson’s current club Bournemouth do not want to sell their star striker. Media reports suggest that the Cherries will resist any bid for the 26-year-old former Coventry striker.
However, £50million is a lot of money, even in these days of crazy transfer fees. The Cherries have spent big by their modest standards in recent transfer windows. Their latest signing is former Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke, who cost the Cherries £19million from Liverpool.
Bournemouth are a well-run club, but in terms of the Premier League, they are a small club. They cannot offer Wilson the sort of wages or prospects that a rich club like Chelsea can. A move to Chelsea for Wilson would mean playing European football and developing his game. Looking from the player’s point of view it would be a hard move to turn down, despite the faith that Bournemouth have shown in him.
It is hard to tell whether the Cherries would consider selling Wilson. However, I would imagine that if Chelsea made a bid, then it would be hard for the Cherries to keep hold of the player.
We have seen it before when big clubs want players from smaller clubs. They are usually successful eventually. Liverpool with Van Dijk, Manchester City with John Stones and Barcelona with Philippe Coutinho are three that spring to mind straight away.
Chelsea needs a striker to maintain their top four spot
Arguably, Chelsea needs to sign a new striker just to maintain their position in the top-four. The Blues are currently fourth place in the top-flight table, but just two points ahead of London rivals Arsenal.
The bookmakers face Sarri’s team to make the top-four, as Chelsea are odds of 4/11 to clinch a Champions League spot this season. However, at times in recent months, the Blues have lacked a cutting edge in midfield and attack. The club are also working on deals to strengthen their midfield options in January.
For many, though, a new striker would be the priority in January with Morata and Olivier Giroud both failing to give the team what it needs to be successful.
Callum Wilson would no doubt add something to the Chelsea team. If he stays fit, he could be a major success at Stamford Bridge. Only time will tell if the striker will be plying his trade for the south west London club in the near future.
Would Callum Wilson be a good signing for Chelsea?
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