West Ham’s former Chairman David Sullivan agreed a well documented payment by results contract for last summer’s signing Callum Wilson: The player had been let go by Newcastle United after missing virtually two seasons out of the preceding five following huge injury problems.
West Ham took a no-risk option with a modest salary and payment by results, reportedly giving Wilson a big bonus every time he found the net.
With game time limited more by Nuno’s team selection rather than through his lack of match fitness, Wilson at times cut a frustrated-looking figure on the West Ham bench.
Wilson grabbed valuable goals despite being restricted in game time by Nuno’s selections
His seven Premier League goals (no thanks to VAR) and one assist appear to have done the job and proven to other top-flight sides that he still has it in him: Nobody would doubt the man’s ambition to score the five remaining goals he seeks to join the elite PL 100 club.
Footballinsider.co.uk claim he’s got a destination in mind:
“Callum Wilson ‘likely’ to agree Coventry City return”
They claim – whilst Hull City are also reportedly in the mix for the former Bournemouth and Newcastle United frontman.
Either way, his West Ham United ‘rehabilitation’ season appears to have don the trick and proven he still has it in him at 34 years old to score goals in the top flight. Few will forget his late ‘goal that never was’ against Arsenal as VAR chalked one off his Premier League tally and dashed West Ham’s survival chances at the same time.
Who knows what might have been, but Wilson will be sent on his way with most West Ham fans – me included – having reappraised their opinions on the man who turned out to be the last of the ‘Sullivan Specials’.
Sullivan specials now has an entirely sordid association to it. Hope never to hear the phrase again, not that I was that keen on it before.
Good luck to Callum, I hope he gets to 100 but worry that if he plays as much as he wants, the injuries could mount up again, I think Nuno managed him very well and kept him hungry.