Wilshere heads towards Arsenal exit
LONDON: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was told by manager Arsene Wenger that he was free to leave the Premier League club before the start of the season but the 26-year-old opted to fight for his place.
The England international has struggled to hold down a starting place in recent years after battling serious injuries and spent the last campaign on loan at Bournemouth before sustaining a season-ending leg fracture in April.
Wilshere was told he could leave with around a month remaining in the summer transfer window but felt offers from other clubs were not enticing enough and he had yet to regain full fitness.
“It was an honest conversation,” Wilshere told British media. “He (Wenger) said, ‘I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go’.
“Obviously, I was not happy with that but at the same time I was happy he was being honest.
“He also said at the same time that if I did stay I had an opportunity to fight for my place, and if I performed well in the League Cup and Europa League, I had a chance.”
Wilshere has fought to regain his first team spot, making 31 appearances for the club this season and earning an England callup for the first time since 2016.
His contract expires at the end of the season and Wilshere is keen to seal his future before the World Cup finals begin in June.
Meanwhile, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s excellent distribution skills could prove a key factor for Gareth Southgate as he bids to solve England’s goalkeeping dilemma.
Southgate is keen to build a philosophy of playing out from the back and Pickford’s comfort with the ball at his feet is understood to have been discussed by the England manager and his coaching staff.
The four England keepers — Pickford, Jack Butland, Joe Hart and Nick Pope — have had a chance to catch Souhtgate’s eye this week as he ponders who will be his No 1 at the World Cup.
England play a friendly away at the Netherlands today before hosting Italy on Tuesday.