Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal have not yet opened contract negotiations with Jack Wilshere
Wilshere is currently on loan at Bournemouth where he has quickly become a key part of Eddie Howe’s side. Reports emerged earlier last week that Wilshere was worried about his future at Arsenal as there had been no contact between the club and his representatives over a new contract, and Arsene Wenger has now confirmed that is indeed the case.
Arsenal are set to take on Bournemouth later tonight, and Wilshere will be watching from the sidelines as he is ineligible to play against his parent club. Speaking at his press conference ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger was asked if there were any updates on Wilshere’s contract and he admitted that he had spoken to Wilshere, but not about his contract.
Arsene Wenger’s admission of the fact that Wilshere has not yet been offered a new contract comes at a time when Arsenal are being linked with moves for a number of central midfielders, including Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi and Juventus’ Miralem Pjanic. Arsene Wenger is said to be looking for a long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla, whose deal expires at the end of the season.
Wilshere – who turned 25 on New Year’s day – will only have one year left to run on his contract by the end of this season, and there will be no shortage of suitors for the England international should Arsenal decide to part ways with him. For a player of his quality, he will cost a pittance given that he will only have 1 year left and Arsenal will be forced to sell should he decide to leave.
The Mirror report that Manchester City are still highly interested in bringing the midfielder to the Etihad, with Pep Guardiola said to be a long-term admirer of the diminutive midfielder. AC Milan have also been linked with a permanent move for Wilshere, having been rejected by the midfielder, along with Roma, in favour of a move to Bournemouth this summer.
With Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey all currently on Arsenal’s books Wilshere might still find it difficult to break into the first team. For his part, Arsene Wenger has said that he wants Wilshere to stay at Arsenal but it increasingly looks like that will not be the case.