The future of Callum Wilson is a topic of huge debate between two Newcastle United journalists

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson was close to a move away from St James' Park in January if reports were to be believed, but just how close was he?

Last night local journalist Joel Bland and The Telegraph scribe Luke Edwards both took to X to release very conflicting reports on Callum Wilson's future.

Edwards said that Wilson told the club he didn't want to leave in January and that he's determined to return to fitness this season to help the side:

"Callum Wilson informed #nufc in Jan he didn’t want to leave. He was adamant apparently. His partner has just started a new business up here. He also intends to return before the end of the season in order to try and prove fitness before the Euros. Could he be sold in the summer? Yeah, of course he could, but he’s not simply given up and decided he doesn’t want to play for Newcastle anymore."

Meanwhile Joel Bland claimed that Wilson was now unsettled after his proposed move to Atletico Madrid collapsed during the winter transfer window.

"Tensions have risen since his move was blocked to Atletico in January, a transfer that the striker was keen on.

"The forward's pectoral injury is understood to keep him out at least nine weeks, although it is believed there will be a lack of effort from the players side to speed this up.

"There's also interest from Saudia Arabia, with 'multiple' clubs considering making a summer move, according to a source close to his agent.

"The 31-year-old has also recently removed a bid for a house in Tyneside, which reinforces his uncertainty to stay in the North East beyond the summer.

We think Callum Wilson's time is coming to an end

Both claims are definitely in contradiction to each other, although Luke Edwards does concede that Wilson could still be sold in the summer regardless.

We recently placed him on a list of six first-team players who should be moved on this summer owing to his lack of reliability when it comes to his fitness. We simply can't rely on him and Alexander Isak for an entire season with both being prone to a spell on the sidelines. We can handle one injury-prone striker but two is just too much.

Perhaps tellingly, when questioned about his take, Luke Edwards did say that Joel Bland does tend to get good info, so if we're leaning one way, it'd be towards what Joel said. He's been pretty spot-on in the past.