Newcastle United discover transfer priority as £20m AC Milan target told to depart

Newcastle United have been told selling Callum Wilson should be one of their priorities for the summer transfer window.

The nine-times capped England international will enter the final year of his current deal at St James Park this summer and is believed to be the subject of interest from clubs in the Premier League and Saudi Pro League. That comes just months after Wilson reportedly attracted interest from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and United’s former Champions League opponents AC Milan during the January transfer window.

For now, Wilson is focusing on returning to action before the end of the season after he was forced to have surgery on a pectoral injury he suffered in the closing stages of last month’s 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest. The 32-year-old was left ‘very disappointed’ by the blow according to Mapgies manager Eddie Howe as Wilson’s attempts to provide competition for Alexander Isak continue to be hampered by yet another injury.

He said: “It's no doubt a big blow to him because I think he's looking at various things. His first priority has always been Newcastle and he feels it has been a stop start season for him. He takes that burden of being one of our two strikers very seriously and he's desperate to do well and score goals. He was very disappointed in that perspective and he had England on the horizon as well so we hope he'll be back before the end of the season.”

What lies ahead of Wilson remains to be seen but he seems certain to have further competition for a place in Howe’s side this summer as Magpies recruitment staff monitor several attacking targets ahead of what could be a hectic close-season at St James Park. United scouts have reported watched the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush, Arouca forward Rafa Mujica and Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy in recent months as they look to boost Howe’s option at the top end of the pitch.

Wilson is unlikely to be willing to accept a position as Howe’s third choice striker - and former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino believes the former Coventry City and Bournemouth striker will move on from St James Park at the end of the season.

He said: “Sometimes you just have to move people on. That’s what Liverpool did with Jordan Henderson, James Milner. They get to a certain stage and even though they love them they still move them on. I think Newcastle might have to do similar things. I really like Callum Wilson, he’s really good and always reliable, but I would probably move on from him in the summer.”