Callum Wilson tipped to join Sunderland after Newcastle exit – ‘he’ll do well there’
Callum Wilson has been tipped to make a shock move to Sunderland just days after his exit from their arch-rivals Newcastle.
Wilson confirmed his departure from the Magpies on Monday (7 June), after negotiations between the club and the player over a new contract broke down.
After his move from Bournemouth to St James’ Park for around £20million in the summer of 2020, the 33-year-old scored 49 goals in 130 appearances.
However, last season the striker started just two top-flight games for Eddie Howe’s side and didn’t manage to score a single league goal.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the striker still has what it takes to score goals at Premier League level.
Wilson can still do it in the Premier League
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Wilson would do well at one of the newly promoted clubs, like Sunderland or Burnley.
The Black Cats are back in the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2017, and they have already spent over £50m on new players this summer.
Wyness added that Wilson could recreate what Chris Wood has done at Nottingham Forest.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I like Callum. He’s produced it. He’s had some injuries, but overall, he’s been a success. I’ve got to say he would do well at the likes of Burnley and Sunderland.
“Whether he stays in the Premier League or goes to the top of the Championship, to one of those clubs that are going to be looking at promotion, he’s definitely a player who can still do it.
“You look at what Chris Wood did at Forest, where an old stager came back and performed beyond everybody’s expectations, and I think Callum could be the same sort of story.
“There’s no doubt that if you’ve got a young squad that’s putting balls into the box, Callum can finish, so there’ll be a number of people looking at him. It’s his injury record and age; although he’s 33, he’s still got a good couple of years potentially, depending on those injuries and what his medical would say.
“I think he’ll end up still in the Premier League or the top level of the Championship, and he deserves to. He can still do a job.”
‘Sunderland race to sign Sam Johnstone’
Meanwhile, Sunderland have reportedly set their sights on a deal to sign Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
That is according to their former scout Mick Brown, who claims that the 32-year-old has emerged near the top of their list of targets.
This comes after the Black Cats missed out on a deal to sign Marcin Bulka, who had been their first-choice goalkeeping option, as he instead joined Neom SC in Saudi Arabia.
Brown told Football Insider in May that Johnstone is ready to leave Wolves in this summer’s transfer window in search of increased playing time.
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