Image source: bbc.com
West Ham have put on hold plans to release Callum Wilson from his contract, with the striker now expected to remain at the London Stadium until the end of the season. Wilson had been in advanced talks over terminating a deal that expires in the summer, but a senior club official has stepped in to stop those discussions. The decision follows Wilson’s last-minute winner against Tottenham on Saturday.
West Ham Halt Callum Wilson Contract Exit Talks, Set to Keep Striker
West Ham have blocked plans for striker Callum Wilson to leave the club this month after pausing discussions over terminating his contract, which expires in the summer. Wilson had been in advanced talks with the Hammers about being released early, a move that would have allowed him to join another club on a free transfer. Those negotiations have now been halted, and he is expected to stay until the summer.
A leading club official intervened to end the contract-termination talks, leaving Wilson set to remain at the London Stadium for the rest of the season. The shift comes after the 33-year-old scored a last-minute winner in Saturday’s London derby against Tottenham. West Ham have decided internally it would be self-defeating to allow him to depart, with the club described as desperately needing goals in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
Wilson joined West Ham on a free transfer in the summer after five years at Newcastle and has scored five goals in 19 appearances. His first-team opportunities had looked likely to become limited following the arrivals of forwards Pablo Felipe and Tati Castellanos this month. That change in the attacking options had helped prompt the talks over terminating his deal, but the club has now moved to keep him.
Earlier this month, manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed discussions over Wilson’s potential exit and said the two had spoken regularly about the situation. Nuno said he personally decided to bring in two strikers and acknowledged Wilson understood his position had changed. He added that Wilson remained a player for the club and that West Ham could still need him to help them because he joined them.
