AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has revealed he spoke with Chelsea coach Gianfranco Zola about Callum Wilson after the Carabao Cup match on Wednesday.

As reported by Skysports, Howe admitted he spoke to the Italian about his pre-match comments regarding the Cherries striker.

Zola, who is now assistant first-team coach to Blues manager Maurizio Sarri, used the pre-match press conference to call Wilson a ‘quality’ player and say that he will be of interest to a number of clubs in January, not just Chelsea.

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The former Coventry City man has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season, making him joint-third in the league’s scoring charts.

His form saw him make his senior England debut in November, in which he scored against the USA, and he will undoubtedly be on the radar of the top-flight’s elite clubs.

The Cherries will, of course, be keen to keep hold of their star man, who has formed a strong partnership with Norweigan international Josh King up front.

On his ‘chat’ with Zola, Howe said:

I spoke to Gianfranco afterwards and yeah we had a little chat about that situation. But Gianfranco is an incredible person and a really nice guy. And, you know, Callum from our perspective is a huge part of what we are doing here.

Will Bournemouth sell Wilson in January?

Yes

No