Yahoo News Eddie Howe outlines Callum Wilson transfer stance as Newcastle United ponder sales to combat PSR
Eddie Howe has made it clear that he has no intention of selling Callum Wilson this summer - and expects his number 9 to be at St James' Park for the 2024/25 season.
Wilson goes into the final year of his contract and has been spoken about as a player who could drum up some funds to aid the club's PSR and FFP situation. Wilson, who has bagged an impressive 47 goals for Newcastle despite injury troubles, is also content with life at the club but has been linked with a bumper payday in Saudi Arabia's Pro League.
Last summer Howe had no choice but to sell Allan Saint-Maximim to Al-Ahli in order to balance the books and fund incoming deals such as Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento. But he put up a defiant stance on Wilson.
Howe said: "I expect him to come back. I expect him to be at Newcastle next season. I love my players, I love all of them. But different players at different times you might have to say goodbye to them.
"Whether that's me leaving or them leaving. That is part and parcel of football. But I want to keep him at this football club."
One of the big blows for Newcastle has been the inability to field Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson at the same time. Howe is open to a 4-4-2 formation but the duo's lack of availability has hindered the Magpies.
Howe said: "I think along with a lot of other factors that has been one of the main ones. I think if you go back to the season before I was dovetailing them in and out together.
"It was a brilliant option to have, I could dovetail them together. If one player looked fatigue I could replace the other, the competition between them was healthy and seemed to drive them both on.
"I think when you only have one of them available that competition goes which can have a detrimental effect. Then one of them has had to stay on the pitch when they have not been on the physical best.
"So it has been an issue for us. I would love the option to have played them more together, but every manager will have their own tale to tell."
