Callum Wilson has released a statement all but confirming that he is leaving West Ham.
The London club’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed despite a 3-0 win over Leeds at the weekend.
A mass exodus of their squad is expected after the relegation, with Wilson one of many players headlining the departures. He scored seven goals in the English top flight this season.
Celtic’s interest in Wilson was well-documented in the winter window, and could now be rekindled if an experienced striker is what they’re after.
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Celtic target Callum Wilson leaves West Ham
The statement on Instagram, which reads like just as much an apology as a farewell, says: “It hurts. We have failed as a team and definitely fallen short of everyone’s expectations.
“It was well documented that I had a history with West Ham, yet from the moment I arrived, I felt nothing but welcomed by all the fans here.
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“I felt really good and positive coming into this season, and I believe I could have contributed more given the opportunity.
“As you could see, my time on the pitch was very limited at times, but that was out of my control. I’ve always trained hard, kept my integrity, and given my all whenever I’ve been allowed to wear the iconic Claret and Blue shirt.
“I’m sad and extremely disappointed that it has ended this way. This club deserves so much better because there are so many unbelievable people behind the scenes that you fans don’t always get to see.
“For now, all I can say is thank you. Thank you to everyone who supported us. Your passion is amazing, and I truly hope you return to the Premier League, where you belong, as soon as possible.”
Chris Sutton endorsed Wilson for Celtic in January, a time when the Hoops were desperately lacking goalscorers in their squad.
They ended up signing Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu, who scored a single goal each in the second half of the season. Great business.
Money isn’t an object… who are you bringing back this summer?
Martin O’Neill when asked about Callum Wilson for Celtic
Asked if he was interested in Wilson back in January, Martin O’Neill praised the striker but didn’t seem to have him on his radar.
The then-interim boss said: “We are in search of those elusive goalscorers, but we’re not the only team as well.
“On a serious note, I can’t tell you anything about it. Is it becoming my favourite phrase? We are making progress. I bet you just turned off the microphone!
“I hadn’t thought about [Wilson]. Not that he’s not a very, very fine player, but I thought that he was going elsewhere.”
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