Newcastle United have made enquiries regarding the availability of Premier League duo Callum Wilson, of AFC Bournemouth, and Fabian Delph, of Manchester City, the Northern Echo report.
Rafa Benitez is keen on adding to his Newcastle squad next month, but only if the ‘right calibre’ of player arises. He is in the market for players capable of taking his side forward and plying their trade in the Premier League – both Wilson and Delph fit the mould.
Wilson – an integral part of Bournemouth’s 2015 Championship winning side – likes to play off the shoulder, making well-timed runs, latching onto through balls and using his pace to get into goalscoring opportunities. A player in a closer to mould to Championship top scorer Dwight Gayle than either of Benitez’s current options, Aleksandar Mitrovic or Daryl Murphy.
A cruciate ligament injury thwarted Wilson’s progress last season, after getting off to a flying start in the goalscoring department in his debut Premier League season – scoring five times in his opening six games.
The 23-year-old has failed to replicate this fine goalscoring form since returning – netting just five times in his last 22 Premier League appearances – but it has not deterred his potential suitors.
Spurs and West Ham have both been accredited with an interest in Wilson recently, however, it is Championship side Newcastle that are the latest side to express an interest.
According to the Northern Echo, Newcastle’s ‘initial soundings’ regarding the Bournemouth striker have been well recieved. However, the report does state that it will be difficult for Benitez to engineer a move this winter, especially with Cherries boss Eddie Howe keen on retaining Wilson’s services. Instead, a summer move may be more likely – should the Magpies gain promotion.
Fabian Delph, on the other hand, is available this winter and City boss Pep Guardiola would be open to selling to Newcastle – though the player may take some convincing.
Delph has been nothing more than a fringe player since completing his controversial, and somewhat farsical, £8million switch to the Etihad from Aston Villa in 2015.
Just six days prior to signing for the Sky Blues, the then-Villa captain publicly dismissed speculation of a potential move to Man City and pledged his future to Villa, declaring: “I’m not leaving.
I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.
Eighteen months on and Delph has made just 19 Premier League appearances for City – only two of which came under current boss Guardiola. Fabian is keen to call time on his City stay and hopes to kickstart his career with a move away, but the Northern Echo say Newcastle will need to persuade him dropping down to the Championship is a wise move in the long-term. Cue Rafa Benitez.
A third Premier League player is also on Benitez’s radar – Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Newcastle have tabled a loan offer for the youngster and are currently awaiting a response from Blues boss Antonio Conte – who is holding out for a loan offer from a Premier League club.
