Newcastle in talks for “exceptional” Wilson successor

Newcastle have officially confirmed the departure of talented striker Callum Wilson, ending his five-year tenure on Tyneside.

The England international has been integral to the club’s progression over the last half a decade, delivering 49 goals and 11 assists over 130 appearances.

Wilson released a statement on social media this morning:

“To all you Magpies…

It’s time to say goodbye after an unbelievable few years in the Toon.

Thank you for everything. We stood strong together through the highs and some lows to help the club experience new heights.

I am so proud to have worn the iconic number 9 shirt and to have added a little more history to it. Scoring at the Gallowgate End really is as special as they say.

All good things come to an end but there’s no doubt Newcastle United will always have a place in mine and my families hearts.

Thank you for the memories. CW9.”

The 33-year-old is now a free agent, and it remains unclear whether he will stay in the Premier League or move abroad to see out the remainder of his career.

Regardless of what his next chapter brings, he will remain a Newcastle fan favourite forever.

Amid the farewells for Wilson, there is speculation building as to who will replace him in the shared centre-forward role with Alexander Isak.

TalkSPORT are reporting that Newcastle are already in talks to replace their former number nine with another free agent.

The broadcaster claims that former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in negotiations with the North East giants after making the decision to leave Merseyside last week.

It is noted that Eddie Howe is a huge admirer of the goalscorer, though Manchester United are also monitoring Calvert-Lewin’s situation.

Should Newcastle sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

If anybody can get the best out of a player who has struggled with consistency and form, it’s Eddie Howe.

Like Wilson, Calvert-Lewin has had several injury struggles over the last few years and has not been able to reach the level of performance seen before his extended spells on the sidelines.

Over 273 appearances for the Toffees, the 28-year-old, once dubbed an “exceptional footballer” by Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves, has scored 73 goals and registered 22 assists, providing a goal contribution 192 minutes.

Indeed, the Sheffield-born striker has had a pretty average output during his time on the blue side of Merseyside, but has a wealth of Premier League experience to be a decent back-up in rotation with Isak.

It would be unrealistic to expect the club to sign a world-class striker for a significant fee who would also be content to sit on the bench behind the Swedish forward next season.

Given that Calvert-Lewin is a free agent, it means Newcastle can still pursue their top targets in other areas without taking funds out of their transfer budget.

With the right guidance, there is no reason why Calvert-Lewin can’t be a valuable asset to Newcastle next season and beyond.

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Rebekka Arnold

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Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism. Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting. Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.

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