Southampton and Crystal palace enter chase for Championship hotshot
Published:
Southampton and Crystal Palace will commence battle with eight other Premier League clubs to lure AFC Bournemouth hotshot Callum Wilson away from Dean Court this summer.
Wilson, a £3m arrival from Coventry last summer, more than filled the void left by Lewis Grabban’s departure to Norwich by hitting 23 goals for Eddie Howe’s side in their all-but-sealed promotion charge.
Wilson has attracted plenty of rumours throughout the season – a £15m Chelsea bid among the headline grabbers – and according to The Mirror half the top flight is now jostling for his services.
Southampton and Palace are joined by West Ham, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Swansea, Newcastle, Hull, Sunderland and QPR in being credited with an interest in the 23-year-old striker.
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman will soon welcome Jay Rodriguez back from long-term injury but despite his lay-off the England man is also wanted by other clubs, potentially leaving Koeman in need of a replacement.
Likewise at Selhurst Park, manager Alan Pardew knows that he faces a battle to keep Yannick Bolasie at the club this summer and sees Wilson as the ideal replacement should the Congolese ace move on.
Bournemouth, The Mirror claims, are relaxed about the situation having offered the forward a new and improved five-year deal.
Should he accept the new terms Eddie Howe believes he has a striker who can carry his form into the top flight but even if he has his head turned by one of the bigger clubs, Wilson is already contracted to Dean Court until 2018 and the Cherries believe a fee of £12m could easily be achieved for their man.
The rivalry between Bournemouth and Southampton may not be among the fiercest but chairman Jeff Mostyn is unlikely to sanction the sale of Wilson to the Saints ahead of the Cherries first ever top flight season, perhaps leaving Palace in the driving seat at this time.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £25 in free bets.
