Despite news over the past month that Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Martin Dubravka have all extended their contracts on Tyneside by another 12 months, there has been little clarity over Callum Wilson’s future.
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Out of contract in the summer, the 33-year-old has been a proven goalscorer over the years when fit, but has shown evidence of decline this season, making little impact from the bench.
There have been suggestions that Wilson could get one more season, although recent reports suggested that contract talks over an extension are yet to begin.
Eddie Howe spoke on the future of the ex-Bournemouth forward in his press conference this morning, but didn’t exactly offer much clarity on the situation.
Howe quizzed on Wilson’s future
Eddie Howe shared mixed messages when asked for an update Callum Wilson’s future earlier today.
Granted, it would be uncharacteristic of the boss to talk down on one of our players with four huge games still to play, but his stance was at the very least ambiguous.
Initially, it sounded as though Howe was keeping his focus on his plans for the rest of the season, as he said: “He’s very much in my plans going forward. We have four games to go and he’s a huge part of that.”
He followed that up by leaving the idea open that Wilson could earn a new contract if he could perform well in the last four games of the Premier League season. Howe added:
“I think he’s looked better and better in recent weeks. Physically, I see the Callum Wilson of old. He has stayed fit for a long period of time, which has been brilliant to see. I think on his long-term future, let’s wait & see how he performs and how he continues to look.”
It sounds as though the stance, at least publicly, is that Wilson can earn a spot in the Newcastle squad when we return to European football if he is capable of impressing to close the campaign. Given others have already penned deals, it may be telling that nothing is agreed for now, with Howe not even hinting that a deal is close, as he previously did with Schar and Dubravka.
It’s believed we have the option to extend Wilson’s deal by 12 months, although it’s not clear if we’d do that to protect his value and sell, or keep him around as third choice. Alternatively, allowing him to leave would see him depart on a free at the end of June.
What should happen next?
A new contract offered to Callum Wilson must see his wages lowered. A back-up striker is expected to arrive this summer, and we can’t realistically be paying our third choice in the region of £70-80,000-per-week.
Liam Delap, who has scored 12 league goals so far this season in a relegated Ipswich Town side, has been heavily linked and is available with a £30m release clause – though it’s thought his wage demands are in excess of £120,000.
To use Delap as an example of someone who may come in this summer, he or someone of a similar ilk would naturally be above Wilson in the pecking order, but we will want depth beyond Isak and a new striker next season as we prepare to compete in four fronts.
If Wilson got a new deal and did become that third choice option behind a new arrival, we could then see Will Osula loaned out, as The Telegraph recently suggested.
Wilson has offered little off the bench this season and I would be tempted just to let him go. We are now in May and he is yet to get off the mark in the league, with his only goal of the campaign coming against Birmingham in the FA Cup.
