Mauricio Pochettino is considering a move for Callum Wilson to ease the burden on Harry Kane.

Sportsmail understands the Bournemouth striker has emerged as a serious candidate for Tottenham for a second summer running, with Pochettino keen to give himself more options ahead of Tottenham’s return to the Champions League.

The transfer fee could be a sticking point with Bournemouth expected to demand in the region of £20million for their striker, who scored five goals in seven Premier League starts before a serious knee injury wrecked his season.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified Callum Wilson (right) as an ideal backup for Harry Kane next season

Wilson hit five Premier League goals before the end of September before suffering a cruciate ligament injury

CALLUM WILSON IN NUMBERS Premier League appearances: 12 Premier League goals: 5 Career league appearances: 126 Career league goals: 49 Bournemouth transfer fee: £2million Advertisement

Tottenham could be willing to use Ryan Mason as a make-weight in a deal, though Spurs face competition for Wilson. Everton monitored Wilson before Roberto Martinez was sacked and West Ham are also keen on the 24-year-old.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe revealed on Tuesday night that the club had rejected a move from the Hammers for both Wilson, who is managed by Unique Sports Management along with Harry Kane, and Matt Ritchie.

Howe claimed the money on offer was less than the quoted £25million, and said: 'We had a bid on Monday evening. The disappointing thing from my perspective is why the bid has come the day before a game.

'You have the whole season to bid for players. I don't understand that. They were two players who were due to play and there's a lot of speculation surrounding their futures. That was bizarre.'

'It was rejected. We don't need to sell.

'We've got a really ambitious owner. We want to improve our squad.

'Our biggest challenge is going to be keeping the players we have. We love the guys we're working with. We respect them as people.'

Wilson’s brilliant early-season form made him a hugely tempting proposition. But it remains to be seen if there is a lasting consequence to Wilson’s cruciate ligament injury in September, with his six-and-a-half-month absence having interrupted a stunning rise for the former non-League striker.

Spurs could use midfielder Ryan Mason (left) as a make-weight in a move to sign Wilson from Bournemouth

Kane has won the Premier League's Golden Boot but an injury to him could have curtailed Spurs' title push

The Englishman hit 21 goals in League One for Coventry in the 2013-14 season before scoring 20 in the Championship as Bournemouth won promotion.

Howe has carefully managed Wilson’s comeback since his return to the side last month but is yet to complete a full game. Wilson is known to be loyal to Howe, who bought him from Coventry for an initial £2m in 2014 and signed a new four-year deal worth £30,000 a week last summer.