Over a decade has passed since Newcastle United set their transfer record with a £16.8million move for then Real Madrid striker Michael Owen and they could finally be about to break it.
Rafa Benitez is in the market for high calibre players capable of taking his Newcastle side forward, aiding the promotion push and plying their trade in the Premier League next campaign.
The player at the top of Rafa’s wishlist is Callum Wilson of AFC Bournemouth – a player once linked to the likes of Spurs and West Ham.
The Northern Echo understand Newcastle’s ‘initial soundings’ regarding the Bournemouth striker have been well received, but it will be difficult for Benitez to engineer a move this winter, especially with Cherries boss Eddie Howe keen on retaining Wilson’s services.
In spite of this, Newcastle are pressing on with their pursuit of Wilson, a report by Mark Douglas of The Chronicle has revealed. The deal is likely to cost upwards of £20million – smashing Newcastle’s 11-year-old transfer record of £16million.
Even if a move does not materialise this month, the report states Wilson will remain on Newcastle’s radar and a deal will be revisited in the summer window.
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 Benitez.
