Wilson Set for Stamford Bridge

As we enter January, the transfer rumour mill starts turning more than ever as clubs are allowed to buy players once more.  There has been much talk about Chelsea needing a new striker if they are going to finish in the top four this season.

Great Season for Wilson

Several names have been linked but one rumour which will not go away is a move for Callum Wilson. The Bournemouth striker has enjoyed a great season on the south coast, scoring 9 goals and has earned his first cap for the England national team.

Chelsea currently have Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata as their options up-front.  Maurizio Sarri seems to prefer Giroud over Morata but the former has picked up an ankle injury and the manager does not seem keen on playing Morata. In fact, Chelsea have looked more effective at times with Eden Hazard playing as the central front man, with wingers either side of the Belgian.

This will be a concern for Sarri, who does not want to have to rely on Hazard playing as a striker for the rest of the season to be successful.

Giroud is expected to return to training this week and has shown signs of linking up with Hazard this season but Sarri does not seem overly convinced on the French international.  Giroud has just one goal in the Premier League this season, while Morata has 5 goals to his name.

Assists the Key

Perhaps the big difference between Wilson and the two current Chelsea strikers is not just his superior striker rate but his overall link-up play with his team mates.

Giroud has 4 assists to his name in the Premier League this season but Wilson has created 6 goals for Bournemouth.  In terms of the statistics, Wilson is out-performing both Chelsea strikers and the bookmakers believe he could be about to leave Bournemouth in January.  SkyBet offer evens for Wilson to leave Bournemouth in the winter transfer window.

According to the bookmakers, Chelsea will have very little competition for the striker should they decide to make a move.

Odds Favour a Chelsea Move

Chelsea are just 10/11 with William Hill to be Wilson’s club after January while the next club in the betting, Liverpool, are out at 16/1.  So sure, are the bookmakers that Wilson will move to Chelsea before any other Premier League team, they are offering 12/1 at BetVictor for Wilson to move to any Spanish, Italian, German or French club in January.

Despite being keen to deny Wilson will leave Bournemouth this winter, the signing of Dominic Solanke from Liverpool suggests there could be a chance he will leave.  With Joshua King already at the club, all three strikers are unlikely to start together, which means one would be missing out.  That problem would be solved if Wilson was to move on in January.