Callum Wilson will become West Ham’s third summer signing after agreeing to very specific contract compromises that sealed his free transfer following his Newcastle exit.
The experienced striker’s arrival is somewhat controversial given Callum Wilson’s history with the Hammers.
Not to mention the big question marks many West Ham fans have over the 33-year-old’s age and injury record.
There have even been claims that West Ham boss Graham Potter did not want Wilson – or any new strikers for that matter.
When that allegation was put to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners, the response was: “That is a question for the manager not the board.”
Wilson will be West Ham’s third signing
Whatever the stance on Wilson, who turns 34 next season, it does add proven Premier League pedigree to Potter’s frontline options as the Hammers continue to reshape their squad.
Back on July 22nd, Hammers News exclusively revealed first that West Ham were signing Wilson.
The news did not go down too well with many Hammers fans, who feel it totally goes against the transfer philosophy of Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay as they look to drive down the age of the squad.
It has also not been lost on fans that Wilson is a client of Will Salthouse, the agent friend of West Ham chief David Sullivan and his sons.
Although criticism of Salthouse’s influence overlooks the fact he has also been key to some top West Ham signings including Hammer of the Year Aaron Wan-Bissaka at a bargain £15m.
In another Hammers News exclusive on the deal last month, the final hurdle to West Ham signing Wilson was revealed.
That being around the particulars of the contract structure and length.
The imminent third signing’s goal record stands up to scrutiny but there are obvious concerns over Wilson’s injury record.
In five seasons at Newcastle, Wilson missed a whopping 114 matches through injury and illness.
That is the equivalent of exactly three 38-game Premier League seasons.
So for three of his five seasons with the Magpies, Wilson was unavailable through injury – missing a grand total of 677 days, the equivalent of nearly two full calendar years in the treatment room.
Wilson to join Hammers after specific compromises on deal
Nine of his 15 injuries were hamstring related, two were calf, one was back and another was chest.
Those concerns have been circumnavigated by the structure of the deal, though.
Hammers News can confirm Wilson’s unveiling as signing number three is now in the works after specific compromises were reached on the contract.
Wilson is putting pen to paper to be West Ham’s 57th striker signing of the Sullivan era.
The top spokesman for West Ham’s board has confirmed to Hammers News the move is sealed.
And the compromise over the contract has been disclosed too with an interesting twist that will please fans.
Wilson’s West Ham contract not just incentivised on appearances
Because it’s not just about appearances but goals too.
“The Wilson deal is VERY appearance and goal incentivised,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
Wilson has 141 career goals from 392 games.
He will need to add to that at West Ham if he is to get his wages up to the levels a Premier League striker would usually command.
The imminent third West Ham signing’s contract will see him paid a seriously low base fee – rumoured to be as low as £6-10k per-week.
But should Wilson be named in the squad he will receive a larger sum.
Ultimately, though, Wilson will have to be used by Potter to get a full wage, which will be topped up with bonus cash for goals.
Playing and scoring for West Ham see Wilson get full pay packet
The exact parameters for that are not known but West Ham fans won’t care too much if Wilson is netting regularly.
Hammers News understands Wilson will sign an initial 12-month deal with the Irons.
But there will be the potential for a second year if both parties agree.
Wilson has got under the skin of some West Ham fans over the years – not only because he has scored more goals against them than any other club but after referring to his handball goal against them for Bournemouth as a ‘touch of magic’.
Wilson also mocked West Ham’s Europa Conference League triumph – although the comments were banter with close friend Michail Antonio.
In the striker’s defence, Wilson described the Hammers as a club ‘everyone wants to play for’ on a podcast a couple of years ago.
Now he is about to do just that – if he can stay fit and, just as importantly, if Potter picks him.
West Ham fans will get behind most when they pull on the claret and blue shirt.
And it will be no different with Wilson – especially if he scores some important goals.