Callum Wilson: Eddie Howe drops major hint over Arsenal and Chelsea interest in Newcastle striker

Manchester United also plotting potential £18m swoop
Marc Mayo26 January 2024

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted he could be powerless to prevent Callum Wilson from leaving the club amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.

The capital clubs are joined by Manchester United in considering a bid for the England striker, who has been made available for £18million as Standard Sport reported yesterday.

Having plunged £400m into the transfer market since the club's takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Newcastle are in search of funds to avoid falling foul of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules.

Howe told a press conference on Friday: "[Wilson] is 100 per cent committed to Newcastle. We want two fit strikers and want to keep him, but obviously, some things are out of my control."

He added: "It's been a difficult window so far. It's the first time since I've been manager that we've been linked with players leaving. That creates an unsettling dynamic.

"We want to keep our squad intact and keep our best players, but I'm also aware of the club side and FFP is affecting all clubs. We're no different to any other club."

Wilson has 18 months left on his contract at St. James' Park and his exit would still allow Howe to pick top scorer Alexander Isak as the lone striker in his favoured 4-3-3 system.

The Newcastle boss has had to contend with increased transfer speculation in his players this month but two who appear likely to stay put are Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron.

Paraguayan winger Almiron is reluctant to move to Saudi Arabia after being linked with Al-Shabab and Howe said he was "desperate" to keep him on Friday, whereas he described himself as "very confident" Trippier would stay after Bayern Munich saw a bid rejected and reportedly turned their attention to Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey.

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