So the free transfer of Callum Wilson has finally gone through. A lot of people seem to be going into social media meltdown over this. Yes we still need a young striker unless Callum Marshall makes the PL grade, but on a one-year-deal and with a contract that is mainly based on pay-as-you-play there's not too much to lose.
The downside is that signing an injury-prone 33-year-old striker who only started two games last season sounds unambitious and like the old West Ham, just content to stay up. Is he the next Danny Ings? There's also the perception that Wilson might be a David Sullivan signing, though Potter seems happy to talk up the worth of Callum.
In the main West Ham should be buying younger players, but if Potter wanted Wilson then he's a proven long-term Premier League goalscorer, a striker who scores every three games, with 132 goals spread over ten seasons at Coventry, Bournemouth and Newcastle (and he'd inevitably score against the Irons). Potter mentioned Danny Welbeck, now 34, whom he took to Brighton as a similarly derided signing and managed to largely keep clear of injury and rejuvenate his career.
Three seasons ago at Newcastle Wilson scored 18 goals and that was while competing with Isak. If he can stay fit he'll be a good option to bring off the bench, though that if is a very big if at the moment. But goalscoring is the hardest part of the game and if Wilson does stay in one piece then Potter's gamble will have been worthwhile.
The other positive is that West Ham have now had a Pike, Walker, Jones and Wilson on the books. To complete the Dad's Army set all we need is Godfrey, Fraser and Mainwaring. Don't panic!
