Newcastle United number 9 Callum Wilson has spoken out about his future at St James' Park amid year-long talk that he could be sold.
Wilson's exit fits the bill in terms of satisfying PSR and FFP rules, but when applying football logic, as Eddie Howe has pointed out, it could be a big mistake to sell the man who is now second top scorer in Newcastle's Premier League goal chart. Wilson was subject to a loan offer from Atletico Madrid in January and there was understood to be interest from Chelsea.
But Wilson made it clear he was only interested in focusing on the task in hand at United. After coming back from a chest injury, he has now scored two goals in his last two matches and made it to double figures for the season.
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Incredibly, he has three games to close the gap to his tally of 18 goals last term while he now only has Alan Shearer ahead of him in that Premier League goalscoring chart on Tyneside.
When asked about his future, Wilson told reporters after the game: "It's the next three games. My focus and first thought is just to finish the season strong.
"Then try to get myself into the tournament in the summer. And I am contracted to Newcastle so I will be back for pre-season."
Asked if there was an element of doubt, former Coventry and Bournemouth star Wilson said: "Nah, say what you want to say."
Wilson's 47th Premier League goal for the club at Burnley was a record breaker on Saturday and despite having injury problems he has scored 48 goals in all competition for Newcastle in 107 appearances, not bad by anybody's standards.
The number 9 said: "It is a huge honour to be part of the club's history. It is such a fantastic thing, wearing the number 9 to do it as well. It is what dreams are made of as a young kid. When I did take over the shirt I just wanted to do it proud. I am glad that I am still able to do that."
Wilson's only negative moment at Turf Moor was picking up a yellow card for simulation with the striker booked by Anthony Taylor, to which he said: "There was contact, I stayed down and the referee made his decision."
