Callum Wilson
According to the Telegraph, Fulham have joined the race for the signature of Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson.
28-year-old Wilson has been one of Bournemouth’s key players since joining the club back in 2014. The Englishman played a major role in helping the Cherries earn Premier League promotion by helping them win the Championship in the 2014-15 season.
Since then, Wilson has been one of the regulars in the side and has a total of 67 goals and 30 assists from 187 matches across all competitions for Bournemouth.
He was even the side’s top-scorer in the last two Premier League seasons with 8 in the 2019-20 campaign and 14 in the season before. However, despite his consistent goal-scoring skills, Wilson could not help the Cherries from staying in the top-flight as they got relegated back to the Championship last season.
While Bournemouth were pushed to the lower division, London side Fulham earned Premier League promotion after emerging as winners in the Championship play-off final against Brentford.
The Cottagers under manager Scott Parker are returning to the top-flight after a gap of one year following their relegation from the Premier League in the 2018-19 season. With the side set to feature in the top-flight once again, Parker is looking to add Premier League experience to his squad and has identified Wilson as a suitable candidate.
A veteran of 41 Premier League goals and 16 assists from 126 matches for Bournemouth, Wilson is an already proven talent in the top-flight. Hence, Fulham’s interest in him makes complete sense as they look to bolster their squad ahead of next season.
Also, at present, Fulham just have one established striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic. Though the Serbian was in sensational form last season, scoring 26 goals from 40 Championship games, he has spent a year away from the top-flight and it remains to be seen what the future has in store for him.
Apart from Mitrovic, Fulham have Bobby Reid and teenager Jay Stansfield as back-up. However, Reid scored just six goals despite making 41 Championship appearances.
Academy graduate Stansfield, meanwhile, just turned 17 and has played just twice for them. This suggests that Fulham are clearly in need of depth in their striking department. An experienced striker such as Wilson’s arrival will make them stronger. Hence, they should push ahead with their interest in Wilson.
Fulham clearly have a dearth of established and consistent goal-scorers in their rank and Wilson, by all means, will be a valuable addition. He is an experienced goal-scorer for Bournemouth in the Premier League and his arrival will offer Parker a good option in front of goal. Also, he is 28 and still has plenty of football left in him.
