Callum Wilson’s Newcastle United future has become clearer with the Magpies facing three options to decide the Englishman’s fate.

The 32-year-old has a storied history with injury that has been no different in 2024/25. Wilson has made just four substitute appearances in between separate back and hamstring injuries that have ruled him out for the majority of the campaign.

The former Bournemouth forward’s contract is set to expire in the summer and there was some expectation he may be sold in January. His current hamstring injury, the ninth time he has suffered an issue with that area since signing for Newcastle, have made that possibility very slim.

Newcastle could yet receive a fee for Wilson after all, however, as new information regarding his contract has come to light. 

Wilson clause revealed in new report

According to The Athletic, Newcastle have an option to extend Callum Wilson’s contract by a further 12 months, meaning the striker may not leave for nothing this summer after all – giving the club three options.

The first option, extending Wilson’s deal for another year with the hopes of selling him this summer, poses an obvious risk. There is every chance he returns from his injury in mid-February and scores a handful of goals to help with our European push to maintain his value and allow us to get a fee come the end of the season.

There is the certain risk that Wilson comes back to fitness, and gets injured again, as he did in December. That scuppered the opportunity for any potential deal this month and would look awful business if we activated an extension with the intention to sell this summer.

There is also the option to extend Wilson’s deal with the view of keeping him around as a back-up to Alexander Isak with Will Osula clearly not favoured, though it would again be provided that Wilson can stay fit. Being one of our top earners, if he was to get injured again then it would have a significant dent in our PSR position for little gain.

Finally, the club can cut their losses and release Wilson this summer to clear his significant wages from the books but receive no fee. If we doubt our ability to receive a fee this summer after a 12-month extension, this could be our most likely course of action.

We have the option to exercise the clause until the end of the season meaning no decision has to be made with haste, with the hierarchy within the club mulling over the three choices before making a firm call.

Toon facing tricky decision

It puts the powers that be at Newcastle in a tricky spot as it’s not the simplest of decisions to make by any means. 

It’s probably time for Wilson to move on after some excellent moments in black-and-white. The fact of the matter is he is just no longer dependable, but what if we extend the deal and there are no takers.

Though West Ham were said to be interested in bringing Wilson to London in January before his hamstring injury recurred, if there are no buyers after we extend the contract we’re ‘stuck’ with him on big wages that could be used on a more reliable squad member.

Surely there would be a taker somewhere ready to take a punt and pay a small fee for the forward – but this might be one that we make a decision on late in the season after seeing how fitness holds up.