Why signing Callum Wilson would make Chelsea a lethal force
According to Spanish publication Marca, Chelsea have Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson on their radar ahead of the January transfer window.
Meanwhile, Premier League side Chelsea were given a two-window ban by FIFA in February for breaching the rules to sign young players.
However, the Blues can now sign players in January after their transfer ban was reduced to just one window, following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
With less than a month left for the upcoming transfer window, manager Frank Lampard’s Chelsea would be keen to strengthen their squad by adding some players.
And one such target for the Blues is Bournemouth finisher Callum Wilson. A regular in Eddie Howe’s side, Wilson has started in all their 15 league matches this season and found the back of the net 5 times.
He is just one goal short of their top goal-scorer this season – Harry Wilson, who has 6 to his name. After joining Coventry City’s youth academy in 2009, Wilson went on to play for the League One outfit for 5 years until making a switch to Championship side Bournemouth in the summer of 2014.
He helped the Cherries gain promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history. Wilson was his side’s leading top-scorer that season, with 20 goals in 45 Championship appearances.
He has been a key player for Bournemouth, who have managed to remain in the top-flight ever since. The 27-year-old was once again his side’s leading goal-scorer last season, with 14 goals from 30 matches. He proved his worth further by also assisting 10 times.
Having said that, it is no big wonder that Chelsea are interested in the Englishman, who has helped Bournemouth stay in the top-flight for the past few years.
Meanwhile, Chelsea, who had been banned from signing players in the summer had to rely entirely on their young academy graduates this season.
They have repaid their manager Lampard’s faith in them by putting up some impressive displays and are currently fourth in the league table with 9 wins from 16 games.
And pivotal to Chelsea’s success so far this season has been their 22-year-old striker Tammy Abraham, who is the league’s second-highest scorer behind Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy. Abraham has scored 11 goals from 15 appearances for the Blues.
With Lampard sticking with the in-form Abraham, other Blues strikers such as Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud have seen themselves being pushed to the sidelines most of the season.
Michy Batshuayi has been more lucky of the two and has often found more chances than veteran Giroud, who has fallen down the pecking order with Lampard.
Batshuayi has made 9 league appearances so far, most of which have been from the bench, and has scored once.
Giroud’s case has been worse, with the experienced campaigner playing just 5 times in the league this season. To add more to his woes, the French forward has failed to open his account till now.
With the frustrated Blues man looking to make an exit after attracting interest from a variety of European clubs, Chelsea’s search for an in-form striker seems to be a move in the right direction.
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Verdict
Wilson has a proven track record already and Blues eyeing a move for the Bournemouth finisher is a wise decision by all means.
Moreover, with Batshuayi and Giroud not among the goals anymore, the Blues clearly need someone as a backup for the in-form Abraham to help them stay on top for the rest of the season.