Newcastle are preparing new contract talks with Callum Wilson in move to secure the striker’s long-term future.
Wilson still has two years to run on the deal he signed with the Toon when he joined them from Bournemouth in 2020. But boss Eddie Howe is a huge fan of the centre-forward and is keen to get him tied down as quickly as possible.
Newcastle are in the market for a new central striker this summer but Howe knows he needs squad depth if he wants to challenge in the top half of the table. The club have already been active in the transfer market, with Matt Targett’s loan move turned into a permanent deal, and with Nick Pope and Sven Botman also arriving at St James’ Park.
However, Howe is keen to reward other key players and Wilson is someone he believes will play a significant role as the club moves into its new era. Newcastle paid Bournemouth around £20million to sign Wilson, who has won four England caps under Gareth Southgate.
Everton and England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a target for the Magpies, as is Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby. Newcastle have been quoted £60m for Calvert-Lewin but, while they will try to negotiate, that sum is not expected to put them off. Diaby could also cost the mega-rich, Saudi-owned club up to £50m.
Meanwhile, new Newcastle defender Botman has opened up on his decision to snub AC Milan to move to Newcastle. The Dutch defender said recently: “The latter has actually been a dream all my life. AC Milan also gave me a good feeling, but Newcastle United felt just a little bit better in the end. I really wanted to go to Newcastle United in January, because I also heard - and that's a cliche, I know - that such a train doesn't pass by often. It means the very big chances don’t come by that often. To me Newcastle was a mega opportunity.
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“I was able to say goodbye to Lille in a nice way. That club deserved that. Staying wasn't a punishment in January either, because I knew there were two beautiful Champions League games against Chelsea coming up. I have that baggage now, too. Immediately after arriving, I noticed that soccer in England is a very different game than in France. Everything revolves around soccer. I'm not the most well-known player anyway, but I was recognised and talked to on the street. In the stadium and at the training centre, where I was medically examined, the fans were waiting for me. That took some getting used to for me.”
Botman is aware of the need to delivery with a £35m pricetag hanging around his neck and the pressure that brings. He added: "This is a mega deal. There is a lot of pressure on me. Although that's partly my own fault, because I want everything - from house to car and from bank account to English phone number - arranged before training starts. I don’t want to think about it (the transfer fee) at all.
"This is how the soccer world has developed and how the transfer market is at the moment. There's nothing I can do about that. And hopefully I'm still the sober guy from Badhoevedorp. That forty million euros, by the way, shows how badly Newcastle United wanted me. That gives confidence and it is now up to me to repay that.”
